Planning also leaves no flexibility to act urgently

Europe does not happens in the crisis. 68 Of its citizens put unemployment at the top of their priorities and economic stability, according to a survey of European Challenge, more than half believe that the Union not did enough to protect them. Thus, the Barroso Commission missed an opportunity to propose a European automobile plan and its institutions were upsetting to unlock the small EUR 2 billion that were intended to be its contribution to the common recovery plan. Political parties of all sides in most Member States were well understood: a Europe closer to the day-to-day concerns, more social and more protective figure prominently in their electoral programmes for the June European. This is true in France (read below), but also in Germany, where the CDU demands a strengthening of the supervision of the banks while the SPD campaigned on the theme of social Europe. In Spain, where José Luis Zapatero, who will chair the Union from January 1, explained late April to be "out of this crisis by strengthening the protection and social rights". Even the United Kingdom, traditionally hostile to any Community intervention in the social field, seems to change his mind. The new eastern Member States remain the more hesitant.

No flexibility

If the Union was disappointed, it is not solely responsible for. "It was designed to be long-term, not to react in crisis", was a diplomat. The amount of its budget is ridiculous. Around 1 of Community GDP, it represents just one of a large German Land. Planning also leaves no flexibility to act urgently. Europe has not nor of the levers of a genuine social policy. The more concrete decisions, such as the setting and payment of unemployment benefits, depend on Governments alone. And when there is harmonisation, the risk for the most developed States is that it at the bottom, the image of the legislation on working time.

"Ambitious legislation."

Every day, most of the directives and regulations of the Union however put the protection of the citizens in the forefront of their priorities. And this in all areas, combating climate change, for the safety of transport or toys, passing through the protection of workers, pregnant women or minors, not to mention the fight against illegal immigration and mafia networks which organise it. "Europe expands every day of laws which are among the more protective and more ambitious of the world", recalled as an official, citing the example of REACH, the new regulation on chemicals came into force in mid-2007. And the European Parliament plays a crucial role in this consideration. The codecision procedure, giving it more powers, and led him to harden the texts proposed by the Commission, whether it's the CO2 emissions from cars, the cost of telephone calls cross-border or the liberalisation of services yet.

In the ongoing negotiations between the Commission, the Council and the Parliament for a more protective Europe, it is paradoxically the first which seems to often the less combative. "The Commission has lost opportunities to take the initiative in to excluding from this institutional game where it should occupy a prominent place.". "José Manuel Barroso has chosen, in effect, to avoid the debates within the College to not risk piss off the heads of State and Government", said a negotiator. A choice but probably detrimental to the proper functioning of the Union which should guarantee a second term as the current President of the community Executive.