Merkel sets out Germany's EU Super State programme
Pastor Dale Morgan
Wednesday January 17, 7:50 AM Reuters
*Merkel sets out Germany's EU Super State programme*
By Paul Taylor
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel will set out her
country's plans to revive the European Union's stalled constitution and
work towards a common energy policy in a speech to the European
Parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday.
Merkel has sought to play down expectations for Germany's six-month
presidency of the 27-nation bloc, aware that her ability to relaunch a
Union in the political doldrums may hinge on factors beyond her control.
With French President Jacques Chirac and Prime Minister Tony Blair set
to leave office this year, Merkel has emerged as Europe's most
influential leader.
But German officials say what she can achieve depends on who is elected
French president on May 6, almost two years after French and Dutch
voters stopped EU institutional reform in its tracks by rejecting the
draft constitution in referendums.
"We all realise we can't go on with the current institutions, designed
for a community of six, and we have to reform the system to cope with
current and future enlargements," one Berlin policymaker said.
"But we face lots of political uncertainties -- in France, in Britain,
Poland, the Czech Republic and the Netherlands."
Conservative French presidential candidate Nicolas Sarkozy wants to cut
back the treaty to a few key reforms -- a long-term EU president and a
foreign minister, a more democratic voting system and more power for
national parliaments.
His Socialist opponent, Segolene Royal, whose party was split in the
referendum, argues Europe must prove its value to citizens through
practical economic and social projects before focussing again on
institutional issues.
Britain, Poland and the Czech Republic, which promised referendums but
never held them after the French and Dutch said no, have got cold feet
about the treaty, diplomats say.
Behind the scenes, Germany is sounding them out on what would have to be
removed from the treaty ratified by 18 member states so far to enable
the remaining countries to endorse it preferably without holding
referendums, the diplomats say.
"CONSTITUTION" EXCISED?
The aim is to agree in June on a timetable for producing an amended
treaty with possibly some political guidelines on its content, which may
entail dropping the word "constitution".
German officials said Merkel would outline plans to turn the 50th
anniversary of the EU's founding Treaty of Rome in March into a major
celebration with a Berlin declaration designed to showcase the
achievements of the bloc and its common values.
Her aim is to create political momentum for reform while pressing ahead
with a common energy policy built on ambitious goals for fighting
climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, saving energy and
shifting to renewable fuels.
Germany's own left-right "grand coalition" is divided on energy, with
the conservatives favouring nuclear power, which the Social Democrats
have legislated to phase out.
The Environment Ministry said on Tuesday it would push for the EU to cut
heat-trapping carbon dioxide emissions, blamed for global warming, by 30
percent by 2020 and would strive for a higher goal for Germany.
The executive European Commission outlined proposals for a common energy
policy last week including proposals to force more competition in the
sector, possibly by breaking up power giants such as Germany's E.ON and
RWE and France's EdF.
Germany has muted its opposition to such a move and diplomats will be
listening carefully to hear how Merkel plans to take forward the
Commission proposals.