In short:

The EU cannot shut its doors now, the next step should be the Balkan countries, says Slovak commissioner nominee Jan Figel, in an exclusive interview with EurActiv.

 

 

Interview news - Jan Figel:

The EU needs experience, but also commitment and enthusiasm to avoid being the loser or just a passive observer on the global stage, says Slovakian Commissioner nominee Jan Figel in an exclusive interview with EurActiv: "We see many times that Member States are not keen to obey the rules they have agreed to. Look at the Nice Treaty, agreed by the 15, and then immediate problems. And then with Stability and Growth Pact, I could continue. The EU needs improvement in many ways to become more credible and cohesive in combining strategies and implementation," says Figel, who then explains with a deadpan smile that his name means joke in Slovak.

The recent move in all of the EU 15 member countries to restrict free labour movement from the new Member States is no joke to him though: "I see a gap between words, promises, plans and the realities." He notes that in 2002, under the Swedish presidency, when the model with a possible transition period restricting free movement was adopted after pressure from Germany and Austria, many other countries such as the UK, Ireland, Sweden, Denmark and Netherlands said that they would stay open: "The economic situation is not dramatically different today from then. But sometimes politics prevails over clear economic interest, sometimes after pressure from trade unions, pressure groups or political parties."

Figel emphasises that Slovakia wants to build itself up in the European Union, not to build a Union outside Slovakia by emigrating: "Like you, we also think that 'there is no place like home'. More courage and openness in the area of free movement of labour would prove that there is no real dramatic threat. Administrative barriers have long since fallen in Slovakia after 14 years of freedom. Potential investors and trade partners have been seeking the best conditions on the market, and we are very open and attractive to foreign investors. This should be answered by openness from our immediate neighbours, not restrictions."

Figel is a strong believer in enlargement and he is in no way favouring the view that once grown to 25, the EU needs to shut its doors for a good while: "The process is gradual and already happening. It is difficult to say that we will now freeze everything until we have done our homework. Of course we need to clean up the table as much as we are able to. But the Union is a moving target, I cannot imagine a near or even a distant future with no leftovers. And I would even advise not to try too hard to describe the EU's finality. Remember, today the EU is in our hands, but in 20-30 years it will be in hands of our sons and grandsons."

To him enlargement is about much more than 15 plus 10, rather it is about overcoming divisions in Europe at a politically historic moment: "In a broader sense it is a solution for problems Europe faces today. I cannot see any better answers but enlargement to questions regarding economic and regional development, social cohesion, security and environment. There is no better catalysing phenomenon to solve problems in the Western Balkan countries of building up their constitutional principles and the rule of law," says Figel. However, he does think that new neighbour countries such as Belarus, Ukrania and Russia would need "many, many years and a lot of hard work" before being ready. He suggests special partnerships will be a model for them.

Figel has been twinned with the Finnish commissioner Errki Liikanen, whose portfolio is the Information Society, and he is happy with this: "Finland is one of the latest newcomers, Liikanen knows about the weaknesses of countries joining EU. In 1993 Finland had 19 per cent unemployment, now it is at a one digit figure. Slovakia had the same numbers three years ago. We need to learn from such experiences. Before the wealth of nations was linked to landownership and natural resources, today wealth is tied to knowledge and information. This is attractive for Slovakia and for all the newcomers. If the EU is to be credible in its aim towards the Lisbon goals we need to work harder on it," says Figel who wants to be a commissioner from Slovakia, not a Slovak commissioner:

"The Slovaks need to understand that EU membership is not an automatic solution to our problems, but a tool for solutions. Some answers must be found in domestic reforms, other must be defined at EU level."

Links: http://www.euractiv.com/