What Europe Do We Seek?

While we dwell deeper into the summer, and the Europe of 2009-2014 takes shape it’s perhaps the ideal time to take a step back, and ask ourselves where this Europe is going, what kind of Europe we seek, and how difficult will this Europe be to achieve.
For some Europe is a dream, for others it is a long-term project, and for a third group, Europe is a stepping stone, a path which they follow in order to achieve personal gain.
It is only for the first two groups that this search should make sense to.
So what do “we” want? In theory, what the European Institutions are trying to do, is to build a unified Europe: politically, economically, and socially.  In practice, Europe will potentially take its first real political footsteps when the Lisbon Treaty comes into force. Yet no one knows what resistance the new ‘foreign minister’ of Europe will meet from certain member states, or what calibre politician will be given the post.  Economically, the EU is indeed structured, but somewhat lacking unity, with certain economic forces still refusing to sign up to the Euro- despite their active involvement in the Eurozone’s policies and politics. (Furthermore, member states of the enlargements since the EU15 have committed to entering the Eurozone – a commitment not shared by older, unyielding, member states. Socially, Europe is still fragmented and disconnected. The communicating Europe plan drained tens of millions from the European Union budgets, achieving a new record low turnout in the latest European Elections of June 2009.
What Europeans need is a shared European political space. Funding is in the vast majority of cases distributed through the member states (and rightfully so), but this renders this major function and benefit of the European Institutions alien to the citizens. It is to member states that applications are made, and in the very rare cases of maladministration, it is to the member state administrations and political figures that any kickbacks are provided.
“We” (Europeans) need more than that. “We” need to elect the European Commission, the government of Europe. “We” need to elect our President, and not allow for this president to negotiate his (re-)election with heads of states of governments that s/he will control different funding to over the next 5 years.  “We” need to have a European administration that is accountable to this European government that we elect. “We” need to be able to shape our own Europe.
What do we need to make all of this happen? That’s right, ANOTHER TREATY! And indeed, as most readers might come to understand, this kind of arrangement is probably not possible with a Union of 27- so back to the drawing board we go. And if a two-step Europe is what we need, than perhaps taking this step forward with Lisbon is not the right way to go- and that requires some thought. And for those thinking ahead, we suggest this new treaty, finally establishing a Europe where citizens will seek to directly participate in, is named: “The New Europe Treaty”.