Scrisoarea prin care Germania, Finlanda, Danemarca si Olanda solicita crearea unui mecanism pentru salvgardarea valorilor fundamentale ale blocului daca o tara incalca principiile democratice a fost publicata de Cristian Ghinea, directorul Centrul Roman pentru Politici Europene (CRPE), pe contul lui de Facebook. Ministrii de Externe ai celor patru tari cer un mecanism "independent de politic", care sa semnaleze deficitele de democratie ale unui stat membru intr-un stadiu precoce. Ca ultim pas in penalizarea unui astfel de stat, cei patru ministri cer suspendarea finantarii europene.
Textul scrisorii in lb. romana:
"Drepturile omului, democratia si statul de drept sunt in centrul identitatii noastre Europene. Mai mult decat orice, valorile noastre comune reprezinta liantul care leaga natiunile noastre. In acelasi timp, ele dau forma imaginii Europei si stau la baza exercitarii soft-power in toata lumea", se arata in aceasta scrisoare.
Credibilitatea proiectului european depinde capacitatea noastra de a trai dupa standardele pe care ni le-am impus. Acest lucru este cu atat mai adevarat cu cat Europa este profund zguduita de o criza de incredere care a urma tulburarilor financiare din zona euro. Erodarea increderii care s-a produs se extinde cu mult dincolo de politica economica si financiara. Pentru multi, a aruncat o umbra asupra viitorului proiectului european. Raspunsul nostru trebuie, astfel, sa depaseasca eforturile actuale pentru rezolvarea crizei datoriilor.
La acest moment critic al istoriei europene, este de o importanta cruciala ca valorile fundamentale inscrise in tratatele europene sa fie protejate viguros. UE trebuie sa fie extrem de vigilenta cand sunt puse in pericol, in interiorul granitelor sale. Si trebuie sa fie capabila sa reactioneze rapid si eficient pentru a asigura respectarea principiilor sale de baza. Propunem sa abordam aceasta problema ca o prioritate si consideram ca un rol cheie ii revine Comisiei Europene.
UE ar trebui sa acorde o mai mare importanta culturii respectului domniei legii in statele membre. In recentul studiu Annual Growth Survey pentru 2013 Comisia identifica calitatea, independenta si eficienta sistemului judiciar ca o modalitate de a reduce costurile pentru afaceri si de crestere a atractivitatii tarilor pentru investitii straine. Noi modalitati de a promova domnia legii in cadrul semestrului european trebuie explorate. Desi este corecta evidentierea avantajelor economice ale statului de drept, semnificatia sa merge mult mai departe.
Asa cum ati afirmat foarte corect in discursul privind starea Europei, exista limita in legislatia institutionala atunci cand este vorba de respectarea acestor principii. Nici procedurile inscrise in tratate si nici carta drepturilor fundamentale ale UE nu ofera instrumente suficient de adaptate. Din acest motiv, credem ca este nevoie de un macanism nou si mai eficient care sa asigure respectarea valorilor fundamentale in statele membre.
Un astfel de mecanism ar trebui sa fie rapid si independent fata de politic. Propunem ca executivul european, in calitate de gardian al tratatelor, sa aiba un rol mai puternic aici. Ar trebui sa aiba dreptul sa semnaleze deficitele intr-un stat membru la un stadiu precoce si - daca este sustinuta suficient de statele membre - sa ceara tarii in cauza sa remedieze situatia.
O varietate de optiuni ar trebui explorate in acest caz pentru a impune respectarea acestor valori, inclusiv introducerea unui dialog politic structurat, aducerea acestei chestiuni in fata Consiliului la un stadiu precoce, sau incheierea unor intelegeri constrangatoare intre Comisie si statul membru in cauza. Ca ultim resort, suspendarea finantarii europene ar trebui sa fie posibila.
Dorim sa subliniem ca obiectivele unui astfel de mecanism sunt intarirea valorilor fundamentale respectand deplin traditiile constitutionale nationale. Ar fi nediscriminatoriu si aplicabil tuturor statelor membre in acelasi mod. Credem ca, odata aplicat, acest mecanism va asigura suportul public pentru viitoare extinderi.
Avand in vedere importanta fundamentala a chestiunii, am dori sa discutam acest aspect in Consiliul Afaceri Generale, pentru care trimitem o copie a acestei scrisori presedintelui Consiliului.
Dr. Guido Westerwelle
Bundesminister des Auswärtigen
Frans Timmermans
Minister van Buitenlandse Zaken
Villy Søvndal
Udenrigsministeriet
Erkki Tuomioja
Ulkoministeri"
Iata mai jos continutul acestei scrisori, in limba engleza.
Mr. José Manuel Barroso
President of the European Commission
March 6, 2013
Dear Mr President,
Human rights, democracy and the rule of law are at the heart of our European identity. Our common values more than anything else are the glue which binds our nations together. At the same time they fundamentally shape Europe’s image and soft power around the world.
he credibility of the European project depends on us living up to the standards we have given ourselves.
This is especially so at a time when Europe is deeply shaken by a crisis of confidence which has ensued from the financial turmoil in the eurozone. The erosion of confidence that has taken place extends far beyond financial and economic policy. For many it has cast doubt on the future of the European project itself. Our response must therefore also go beyond the ongoing efforts to overcome the debt crisis.
At this critical stage in European history, it is crucially important that the fundamental values enshrined in the European treaties be vigorously protected. The EU must be extremely watchful whenever they are put at risk anywhere within its borders. And it must be able to react swiftly and effectively to ensure compliance with its most basic principles. We propose addressing this issue as a priority and believe that the Commission has a key role to play here.
The EU should place greater emphasis on promoting a culture of respect for the rule of law in Member States. In its recent Annual Growth Survey for 2013 the Commission identifies the quality, independence and efficiency of judicial systems as a means of reducing costs for businesses and increasing the attractiveness of countries for foreign investment. Further ways to promote the rule of law within the framework of the European semester should be explored. While it is right to highlight the economic benefits of the rule of law, its significance obviously goes far beyond that.
As you very rightly stated in your State of the Union Address, there are limits to our institutional arrangements when it comes to ensuring compliance. Neither the procedures enshrined in the Treaties nor the EU fundamental rights charter provide for sufficiently targeted instruments. We therefore believe that a new and more effective mechanism to safeguard fundamental values in Member States is needed.
Such a mechanism should be swift and independent of political expediency. We propose that the Commission as the guardian of the Treaties should have a stronger role here. It should be allowed to address deficits in a given country at an early stage and – if sufficiently supported by Member States – require the country in question to remedy the situation.
A variety of options could then be explored to foster compliance, including introducing a structured political dialogue, bringing the issue to the Council at an early stage, or concluding binding agreements between the Commission and the relevant Member State. As a last resort, the suspension of EU funding should be possible.
We wish to stress that the objective of this mechanism would be to strengthen fundamental values while fully respecting national constitutional traditions. It would be non-discriminatory and applicable to all Member States in the same way. We believe that once in place it could help secure public support for further enlargement.
Given the fundamental importance of the matter, we would favour a discussion in the General Affairs Council. We are therefore sending a copy of this letter to the Presidency of the Council.
Yours sincerely,
Dr. Guido Westerwelle
Bundesminister des Auswärtigen
Frans Timmermans
Minister van Buitenlandse Zaken
Villy Søvndal
Udenrigsministeriet
Erkki Tuomioja
Ulkoministeri
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