Chirac in Berlin
The prospect of a two-speed European Union moved closer yesterday when the French President, Mr Jacques Chirac, called for a core group of EU states to start co-ordinating policies as early as next year.
In a major speech to the German parliament in Berlin, Mr Chirac said that, once the current Inter-Governmental Conference (IGC) to reform EU institutions is concluded in Nice later this year, France and Germany should lead a "pioneering group" towards closer integration.
"Those countries that want to proceed further with integration, on a voluntary basis and in specific areas, must be allowed to do so without being held back by those who, with every right, do not want to proceed as quickly. Together with Germany and France, they could form a pioneering group," he said.
Speaking a few days before France assumes the EU presidency, Mr Chirac outlined a broad vision of Europe's future that backed German calls for a written constitution and a clear division of responsibilities between nation-states, regions and EU institutions.
He said that a successful conclusion to the IGC was a prerequisite for further integration but that, once the reforms now on the agenda were agreed, a core group of EU member-states should focus on a number of areas of co-operation.
"It is my wish that, as early as next year, this `avant-garde group' should take on the following tasks, among others: improving the co-ordination of economic policies; strengthening defence and security policy; and ensuring greater efficiency in fighting crime," he said.
Mr Chirac said he hoped that the IGC would agree to allow such "reinforced co-operation" within the EU by removing the requirement for unanimous approval by all 15 member-states before a core group can be formed. But he said that, if such a reform was not agreed at Nice, a group of member-states could agree to co-operate outside the structure of the EU.
The President echoed many of the suggestions made by the German Foreign Minister, Mr Joschka Fischer, in a speech on Europe's future in Berlin last month. Mr Chirac also offered support to Germany's proposal for an overhaul of the EU treaties that would culminate in the drawing up of a European constitution.
But he stressed that France and Germany were not seeking to replace nation-states with a single European state. He maintained that there was no contradiction between strong nation-states and sharing sovereignty at a European level.
"Neither you nor we envisage the creation of a European superstate which would take the place of our nation-states and end their role as actors on the European stage," he said.
Praising Germany's role during last year's NATO campaign in Kosovo, Mr Chirac said that Germany should be given a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council to reflect its enhanced role in the world.
Earlier, the German Chancellor, Mr Gerhard Schroder, said that Berlin and Paris were determined to extend the system of qualified majority voting in the EU so that national vetoes could be used in fewer circumstances. "Germany and France will not be divided on this question," he said.
Mr Schroder will meet the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, in Berlin tomorrow for a discussion that will be dominated by EU issues. Mr Blair's spokesman attempted yesterday to play down the significance of Mr Chirac's Berlin speech, but reiterated Britain's opposition to the creation of a two-speed Europe.
"We've made it clear that we're completely comfortable about a debate on the future of Europe.
But we have to look at it in a way that doesn't create a two-speed Europe," he said.
