A Public debate on the future of Europe and Slovenia's role in the EU was held on Tuesday as part of the EU week in Slovenia to mark 9 May, Europe Day. Slovenia's three representatives in the Convention, Lojze Peterle, Slavko Gaber and Matjaz Nahtigal, took part in the conference along with Head of the European Commission Delegation to Slovenia Erwan Fouere and Spain's Ambassador Luis Felipe Fernandez de la Pena, with the opening speech given by Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel. After short introductions a debate with the audience followed, but failed to gain much momentum as there were very few people from the civil society present, the rare exception being a few members of JEF. Still, some moments are worthy of taking notice.

There was a lot of talk of federalism but all Slovene speakers, with various degrees of sympathy towards the idea, concluded that the time for a genuine European federation has not ripen yet. One of the main issues of the EU is how to bridge the gap between its citizens and the decision-making processes, thought Rupel, who imagines the EU as a multi-state and multi-nation intergovernmental organisation that would welcome distinctions and specific characteristics of its members. Peterle, who is also the thirteenth member of the Convention Presidium as the representative of the EU Candidates, believes that the future of the EU largely depends on how the states define subsidiarity, which means defining the EU's jurisdictions and the jurisdictions of national and regional authorities. Gaber, who believes that the Convention on the Future of Europe is still a step behind the Philadelphia Constitutional Convention, which resulted in the US Constitution, called for a serious step toward a true common and security policy. Nahtigal was in favour of Europe that would manage to secure a model of social protection from globalisation and would ensure a balanced development of its member states and provide them with internal and external security. He refused, however, the possibility of doing away with the three-pillar system and maintained that the policies of the second pillar will continue to be broadly intergovernmental.

The Spanish Ambassador suggested that Slovenia's influence on the future of the EU, as that of a small country, would be considered in line with the quality of its proposals. De la Pena called on Slovenia to be more daring in its efforts and let go of its defensive position. Slovenia would definitely not lose its identity in the EU, as it is also protected by the positive discrimination of small countries, he added. Fouere, most probably the only federalist among the speakers, said that success of the Convention would largely depend on efforts of the EU citizens. Europe's priorities must be the priorities of its citizens and the success of the future Europe will not be measured by its institutional nature, but its capability to effectively respond to the expectations of its citizens, stressed Fouere who was also Vice President of JEF Europe in the seventies.

The decision of the Convention will be the result of a wide debate between members of European Institutions, national governments, and parliaments as well as the civil society and will thus have a great moral weight, everyone agreed. Even though EU reform will be discussed by member states at the next IGC, in which de la Pena was certain Slovenia would take full part, it is thus very unlikely that the conclusions of the Convention can be ignored.

All participants reiterated that the Convention itself as well as broad public debates are the best way of discussing the issues of Europe's future. Public participation, they agreed, also gives much more legitimacy to Europe than the old undemocratic and technocratic way of dealing behind closed doors did. Along these lines, a Slovene Forum on the Future of Europe was set up in February in order to provide a constructive exchange of opinions with the civil society and form common positions that would be communicated to Slovene representatives at the Convention The forum includes representatives of various chambers, trade unions, university, NGOs (also JEF Slovenia), local communities, and minorities.

Saso Romanovic,
EB-member JEF-Europe
mailto:saso.romanovic@jef-europe.net