Steady course - more integration

Tomáš Prouza, Czech State Secretary for European Affairs, has an Opinion in Politico, where he argues for strengtening of the Europe´s institutional framework and more integration to get "A new beginning for Europe".

He repeats the conclusions from the Bratislava summit

According to this agreement, in the future, the union should focus on areas where it can bring added value and where the citizens expect it to play a strong role. The union should be able to guarantee our safety and economic prosperity. Hence, it should focus its activities on the areas of internal and external security and support of economic and social development.

Based on this agreement, we should take steps leading to full control of the external borders, a fully operational European border and coast guard, better cooperation of intelligence agencies, and deepening of defense cooperation as well as steps for an active trade policy, investment support, and the completion of the single market.

Nevertheless, he says, these specific measures are not the most important result of the summit

The key conclusion is that the remaining member states, the EU27, have expressed their will to continue with European integration. This consensus confirms the fact that the member states regard the current model of European integration as the best way to further the cooperation of nations on our continent. At the same time, it is based on the understanding that national states cannot face today’s challenges, such as terrorism, illegal migration or the negative impact of globalization, on their own. ...

To succeed with this continued integration, EU must create new confidence in the cooperation

we should not dream about currently unachievable aspirations of super-integration nor claim that we can strengthen the union by returning to its intergovernmental decision-making stage.The problem we are facing now is not an insufficient legal framework, but a lack of confidence. Faltering confidence that we are heading in the right direction is also sometimes accompanied by insufficient courage to use the legroom that the current integration framework offers us.

To achieve more confidence

we need collaboration between the member states and EU institutions. It is obvious that the integration process is not possible without strong institutions. It is equally clear that EU institutions must act in a way that supports the unity of the union. This unity will work only if each actor adheres to its role as defined by the treaties.

He believes the Commission's role is particularly important

It must play the role of an independent mediator between the national interests of member states, not deepen trenches across Europe and aspire to politically control the union. It must be an institution that works for all member states, helping them implement their agreements but also consistently supervising that they respect the treaties and fulfill their obligations ...

Although lack of confidence is a major weakness of EU cooperation, Mr Prouza´s advice for more and better integration is not the solution. EU must change course and steer towards a rebalancing of power between the national and supranational level. On this journey will non-integration be as important as integration.