The (European) federalists may hope for a European Convention to cope with the multiple situations of crisis the European Union (EU) is facing. On this, I found a good post using my blogroll (
http://foederalist.blogspot.de/2013/07/warum-wir-einen-europaischen-konvent.html). The German government seems to be rather satisfied with an approach of »muddling through«, at least for the time being – which has probably a lot to do with the upcoming elections. An important figure which overshadows the European project to this day ist often overlooked: General Charles de Gaulle. Actually, the mythical General of French history (the title of today’s post is almost identical to a well-written book by Sudir Hazareesingh on the topic) influences the intergovernmental bias the European integration has developed over the years. Examples:
- The European Council, initiated by de Gaulle’s successor Valéry Giscard d’Estaing much in line with the General’s ideas of strong nation states.
- The tradition according to which some policy fields in the European framework are treated intergovernmentally and oftentimes necessitate unanimous decisions (starting with the »Luxembourg compromise«, continuing with the »pillar structure« of the Maastricht treaty and still going strong with the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) as an independently signed treaty).
- Different political groups supporting euro-scepticism almost allover Europe which claim de Gaulle as a symbol from time to time and a problemtaic relationship with the Southern Mediterranean or »l’Afrique du nord« (the photograph of 2008 shows a memorial in the 6th arrondissement, which sidesteps the term »Franco-Algerian War« for the 1950’s and 1960’s).
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| Memorial, 6th arrondissement, Paris – HOMMAGE AUX HABITANTS/DU 6e ARRONDISSEMENT/MORTS POUR LA FRANCE/EN AFRIQUE DU NORD/ENTRE 1952 ET 1962 [...] – EN: HOMAGE TO THE INHABITANTS/OF THE 6th ARRONDISSEMENT/WHO DIED FOR FRANCE/IN NORTH AFRICA/BETWEEN 1952 AND 1962 [...] – 2008 (c) dia-eu |
In 2014, there are not only European elections and probably a »bumper crop of euro-skeptics and political radicals« (Paul Taylor for the International Herald Tribune, 2nd April 2013, p. 20) filling the European Parliament (EP). It will also be the 70th anniversary of General de Gaulle’s triumphant victory with his parade on the Champs d’Élysée. Maybe this will also be the time to remind the Europeans of his long shadow.
