The three presidents of the EU's institutions - Jose-Maria Gil-Robles for the Parliament, Jacques Santer for the Commission and Jean-Claude Juncker for the Council - came together in Strasbourg for the annual "state of the union" debate. They aimed to reassure MEPs about the future of the EU and to dispel fears over the introduction of a single currency and enlargement.
President Gil-Robles recognised that both projects were creating uncertainty amongst the public at large. "Important further advances, such as those related to economic and monetary union, are viewed with a suspicion which, even if unjustified, is nonetheless real," he said. He felt the introduction of the single currency would mark an historic date for European integration. "With the euro in their pockets, our citizens will be able to feel a little more European."
His views were shared by Commission President Jacques Santer who was confident the project would go ahead on time with the participation of a majority of member states, despite sniping from detractors. But the Commission President held out a warning for Britain and any other state deciding not to join at the beginning. "As for those member states who have chosen not to join the single currency at the beginning, it is up to them to question the costs of being outside the currency and not part of a winning team."
Council President Jean-Claude Juncker underlined his determination to see that all the necessary preparations would be made in time for EMU to come on stream on January 1st, 1999. He looked forward to a stable currency and to further economic convergence, and their contribution towards increasing employment. Indeed, Jacques Santer, too, saw EMU as leading to the creation of new jobs. He pointed out that, if it was possible to create 10 million new jobs and reduce unemployment by 3 per cent during the last boom between 1985 and 1990, the challenge to find 12 million extra jobs over the next 5 years was not too ambitious a target.
The other uncertainty concerns enlargement to take in countries from Eastern Europe and Cyprus. Here, too, Council President Juncker was adamant that it was vital for the EU to give a clear positive response to the aspirations of those countries that had suffered for so long under communism. At the same time, he warned that membership of the EU should not be seen as a panacea to solve all their problems. It was simply the best way forward for the countries concerned. With countries such as Germany and the Netherlands questioning their contribution to the budget, Mr Juncker made a special plea for the member states not to revert to past squabbling on who pays what into an EU budget that represents less than 1.2 per cent of GNP.
The Commission unveiled its strategy for the enlargement negotiations which will be undertaken separately with each different country. The Commission is proposing to double the amount of pre-accession aid in the year 2000, to allow applicant countries to participate in EU programmes from 1998, and to produce an annual assessment of each country with a view to recommending a firm date for full membership.
Jacques Santer underlined his determination to push ahead with vital reforms of the CAP and regional fund expenditures in preparation for enlargement. Indeed, the Commission's legislative programmes for next year will be dominated by these issues.