Europe Finale
BERLIN/PARIS/PRAGUE (Own report) - The German government in Berlin is prevailing over the resistance that had been raised by several EU governments and is imposing central elements of a European-wide "constitution". The Czech Republic has followed Great Britain and the Netherlands in declaring its willingness to relent. The conservative candidate for the French presidency, Nicolas Sarkozy, has announced the parliamentary ratification of a "simplified contract". The only condition is that the German government renounce on the use of the designation "constitution," otherwise the necessary circumvention of a renewed referendum would only be possible in the Netherlands under a breach of national law. According to the German Chancellor's Office's internal schedule, the final negotiations should begin April 23 and be terminated around June 1. As a prelude, Berlin will launch a large-scale PR campaign, culminating in a "Europe Festival" at the end of March before it proceeds on an "Information Tour" that will take it to more than 50 German cities. The estimated costs of this undertaking are in the double-digit millions. Among the cooperating partners of this propaganda endeavor, which also targets children and youth, are sectors of the German armed forces (Bundeswehr), including one institution specializing in psychological warfare operations.
Hard-Hitting
Nearly all of the states that had initially rejected the proposed draft of the EU constitution, that had been solicited by Berlin, have, over the past few weeks, given up their resistance to many aspects. At the beginning of February, the governments of Great Britain and the Netherlands made known that they are in agreement with a radically abridged version of the contract. It is supposed to regulate the rationalization of the EU's institutions, in order to prepare for a more hard-hitting foreign policy and possibly introduce majority-rule decisions on central policies. Great Britain still refuses to accept such decisions.[1]
Protectorate
Now, following substantial German intervention, the Czech government coalition is also giving in, and declaring its readiness to enter into discussions on a contract text, which should be "more concise, more transparent and less ambiguous" than the previous draft.[2] Just a few weeks ago government advisors in Prague sharply rejected threats emanating from the SPD, according to which the Czech Republic would be isolated if it continues its rejection. The Germans are probably missing their protectorates, Bohemia and Moravia, declared a prominent advisor to Czech President, Václav Klaus, back in the beginning of February.
Still in the Summer
The French presidential candidate, Nicolas Sarkozy's announcement is considered crucial, that, despite the failed referendum from May 2005, a "simplified contract” would be ratified by a parliamentary vote, in the case of his electoral victory. Sarkozy alleges that the planned streamlining of the EU encountered "no resistance during the referendum campaign", therefore another referendum will not be necessary.[3] The presidential candidate discussed the theme of the constitution with Chancellor Angela Merkel two weeks ago and now demands an accelerated ratification process. Sarkozy sees the prospect of a shortened text being waved through the parliament in Paris already this summer. He is thereby falling in line with similar pronouncements made by the new government in the Netherlands. But The Hague made it a condition, at the beginning of February, that the new contract must distinguish itself "in name, contents and volume" from the old draft.[4] In the Netherlands, documents of constitutional status may only be enacted through a referendum.
Focal Points
The crucial negotiations are scheduled for the period between April 23 and June 1, according to the Federal Chancellor's Office's time plan, on hand at german-foreign-policy.com. According to this planning "confidential consultations" are scheduled to take place in the German capital during the last April and the first May weeks - "at the level of focal points" as the document calls it. "Focal points," in the language of the German EU council presidency, are special emissaries sent by states and heads of governments, with a mandate to negotiate questions of the constitution. The German "focal point" is the Chancellor's European policy advisor, Uwe Corsepius. According to reports from German government circles, it is not expected that Corsepius can finalize the negotiations in all the details. Therefore Angela Merkel will personally be on hand in the German capital, between May 21 and June 1, for "bilateral discussions" concerning the constitutional contract. Immediately afterwards, the "finalizing of a draft" is on the agenda at the summit of EU states and government leaders in June.
Climbing Pyramid
The final round of negotiations will be preceded by an elaborate German PR campaign. The informal meeting of EU states and government leaders, set for March 25 in Berlin, with which the next common constitutional stipulations are to be made, will be accompanied by a "Europe Festival" with popular appeal. The Federal Government has announced "a colorful mixture of music, culture and information" for the entire last weekend in March. "Europe will be celebrated on both days with a 'night of the beauty' of the national museums, a 'European club night' and a large open air event at and around the Brandenburg Gate."[5] In the subsequent weeks, Berlin plans "an Information Tour" covering more than 50 German cities. Under the patronage of the German President, "employees of the German government (...) will answer citizens' questions". The nation-wide out-reach campaign also implies minors. "A European climbing pyramid, with chaperons on hand, makes a playful initiation to the EU possible for children and adolescents."[6]
Structured
"Youth and Europe Research Group," a PR-type "model project," is being conducted by a branch of the Munich Center for Applied Policy Research, (CAP), a think-tank cooperating with the Bertelsmann Foundation. This Munich based "research group," claims to dedicate itself to the "major problems of (EU) acceptance within the population" and particularly for young people to "find ways of (...) participating and having a voice in Europe".[7] Among the group's projects are "Peer Learning Activities" (a "junior team training" with emphasis on the EU constitution and EU expansion) as well as "a structured dialogue with youth" within the governmental framework. At the end of March, "a youth parliament for EU expansion" will be convened in the Bavarian state parliament.
Warfare
This "research group" boasts of "an extensive network of cooperation partners from the most diverse disciplines". Among its "most important partners" is the German Defense Ministry, the Center for Internal Leadership of the Bundeswehr, as well as the Bundeswehr's Academy of Information and Communication (AIK), in Strausberg, near Berlin.[8] The AIK is a direct offspring of the Bundeswehr's earlier "psychological warfare" (PSK) and "psychological defense" (PSV) departments and is continuing their mission - within, what appears to be, a scientific framework.[9]
Please read also European Communications Policy, Bauhaus Europa and Deutscher Burgfrieden.
[1] see also Austrittsgedanken
[2] Prag will über EU-Vertrag reden; Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung 24.02.2007
[3] Sarkozy will vereinfachte EU-Verfassung bis zum Sommer; Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung 23.02.2007
[4] Zweiter Versuch für EU-Verfassung; Tagesspiegel 08.02.2007
[5] Europafest am 24. und 25. März 2007; www.bundesregierung.de
[6] Informationstour "Europa wird 50"; www.bundesregierung.de
[7] Europadialog und europäischen Bürgersinn stärken; www.cap-lmu.de
[8] Kooperationspartner der Forschungsgruppe Jugend und Europa; www.fgje.de
[9] see also Neues Steuerungsniveau, Journalisten-Forum und Filmrezension: Gesteuerte Demokratie?