Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
711 words
7 July 2003
06:45
Dow Jones International News
English
(Copyright (c) 2003, Dow Jones & Company, Inc.)
(This story was originally published Friday)
By Matthew Newman
BRUSSELS (Dow Jones)--When Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi unleashed a political uproar Wednesday, comparing a German member of the European Parliament to a Nazi concentration camp guard, he also sparked a debate on how the European Union should be run.
Inside Europe, many see the governing system established four decades ago as awkward and unworkable. Outside Europe, many just don't understand the way it works.
Right now, a different country takes over leadership every six months. The post puts a nation's leader in the international spotlight, and there's no way to impeach either a country or its leader. That means Europe is stuck with Berlusconi at the helm until January, unless Italians themselves depose him.
Critics of the system say it's hard for Europe to ever represent itself credibly on the global stage when the message it sends and the delivery style changes every six months.
With the E.U. set to grow to 25 members next year, Berlusconi's unpredictable outburst gives added weight to arguments for radical change and the establishment of a more permanent E.U. presidency.
"The current system means you're susceptible to the idiosyncrasies of one member state," says Ben Crum, a research fellow at the Center for European Policy Studies, a Brussels think tank.
The Italian leader is trying hard to smooth ruffled feathers. On Thursday, he told German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder he regretted the remarks. While short of a full apology, German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer said Friday the E.U. should now look beyond the furor and work to make a success of Italy's six-month presidency.
"For us, the matter is closed with the apology," Fischer told reporters at an E.U. meeting here.
Some expect the Berlusconi bombast will blow over, particularly if Germany - the most offended country - seems satisfied.
While the Italian leader may not succeed in repairing trans-Atlantic ties damaged by the Iraq conflict, rebuilding Europe's shattered economy and forging Europe's first constitution, regular work such as preparing financial legislation and energy deregulation will go on anyway.
"This won't prevent the Italians from executing the E.U.'s daily business," says John Wyles, a European affairs expert at Brussels consultancy GPlus Europe.
The uproar also comes at a time when European governments are winding down for the long summer holidays.
"The EU slows down in July and August. This won't be a big deal by September," says Tim Evans, president of the Center for the New Europe, a Brussels-based think tank.
But socialists in the European Parliament won't let Berlusconi off so easily. They're refusing to work with the Italian leader until he makes a full apology, not merely expressing "regret" as he has done so far.
"Berlusconi has caused a major crisis unlike any other in E.U. history," said Enrique Baron, president of the parliamentary group of European Socialists. "We cannot continue with "business as usual' as if nothing happened."
More importantly, Berlusconi's theatrics - seen as normal in Italy, but outrageous by European Parliament standards - gives critics a stronger argument to scrap the rotating presidency.
In a draft constitution being debated now and due to be finalized by year-end - ironically in Rome, under Italian leadership - a more permanent head of the E.U. who would be appointed by governments and hold office for two-and-a-half years.
While a more stable presidency doesn't guarantee against another scandal, an appointed leader would paradoxically enjoy greater democratic legitimacy. At the moment, the rotating presidency means the president receives no approval of the other 14 member states.
The present system "underlines the lack of democratic accountability from the public's perspective," says Dick Leurdijk, a research fellow at Netherlands Institute of International Relations.
Another problem is member states are tepid about criticizing the current leader, even if there are genuine concerns about him. They know their turn will come up soon, and they don't want to be on the receiving end of similar attacks.