Is the Europe-China love affair in trouble?
Is the love affair between China and Europe in trouble?
At the EU pavilion in Shanghai, the sun is shining on the alliance between the EU and the Middle Kingdom. The European Union shares a pavilion with Belgium at the 2010 World Expo. Under the “Movement and Interaction” theme, the presence is positive and dynamic. After Europe Day on May 9, next Sunday the Belgian Day is on the programme. Prince Filip of Belgium will pay a visit to the event.
But will high hopes, positive thinking and royal visits be enough to maintain the marriage between Europe and China?
What can be done? On foreignpolicy.com Jonathan Holslag of the Brussels Institute of Contemporary China Studies wrote that "Europe cannot back up its soft power with hard economic capabilities" in the green debate. The European Commission must better pool research projects scattered through Europe and persuade member states to do more.
The same applies to diplomacy. Europe should speak in one voice and with one mouth. With a clear position and insight in the logic and culture of the Chinese decision makers. The gap is real. And unity is the only answer. It is a necessity, in facing the growing Chinese dragon. Then the love between China and Europe can pick up and become truly passionate.
Barroso II: ‘a new hope’?
The European Parliament today by a large majority approved the proposed Commission team lead by José Manuel Barroso. The three major political European groups gave their support in Strasbourg; with 488 to 137 in favor and 72 abstentions. The vote is a clear mandate for a second term, yet at the same time there is a clear wish for not just a sequel but a true 'new hope'.
Joseph Daul, leader of the centre-right EPP also confirmed his support in his address to Barroso , while asking for more courage:
“The EPP group has placed its trust in you, but we ask you to have the courage to make reforms…We will judge you on the progress you make in this direction.”
Although Barroso today showed he was tired when facing the press after the meeting, his words show that he clearly has the will and firm intention to bring new hope:
“We will spend the next five years turning our vision into reality: making Europe a resource-efficient, inclusive, social market economy, reflecting what makes us special, the European way of life.”
The team will now go to work immediately, and a lot of work there is indeed.
As Guy Verhofstadt, leader of the Liberal ALDE group, points out in his open letter to his fellow countryman Herman Van Rompuy, it is time to unite. He hopes the informal summit on 11 February wil be a positive "state of the Union". The Liberal leader says setbacks of the European Union are piling up: the missed opportunity to 'stand with a fist' in Copenhagen, the lack of coordinated response in the Haiti crisis, the financial troubles in the Eurozone and the lack of interest of Obama to join the Madrid EU-US summit. Verhofstadt says the heads of state must come to a single conclusion on the 11th:
Europe needs more unity and more integration; otherwise the Union will cease to play its role on the global chess board.
What is true for Van Rompuy is also true for Barroso II: only united we stand.
This is a challenge that truly resembles an epic movie. Barrosso II and Van Rompuy must bring member governments into a real alliance.
They must at the same time make the Parliament a critical yet strong ally in the new voyage.
And to top it all, through decisive political action and honest, clear and well balanced communication, they must urgently improve the credibility of the EU towards the citizens and the world.
Only then will positive involvement in Europe become a logical and pan European idea. May the Force be with them!
1st European blogger webmeeting, one voice?
On December 3rd 2009 the first online European blogger meeting took place via Skype. Have you even been in a Skype meeting with a large group? It's like ice skating blindfolded over a half frozen lake. Don't talk with two people at the same time by the way, or your comments get lost in cyberspace.
Joe Litobarski started the idea for the web meeting; two dozen bloggers joined in the conversation. Not a giant wave – no google pun intended – but still, a nice turnup. There are people just waiting for a “European public space” to be created–as long as it is also a fun and interesting place to inhabit.
Valéry-Xavier Lentz stressed that being with a limited group of “bloggers” in reality should be considered more as a community involving both bloggers and readers/ commenters.
Nosemonkey was blunt in summing up his view on the problem of EU blogging: "The EU is boring and we all speak different languages".
Nice nose, dear monkey, but I disagree. Although we speak different languages and have multiple dialects, we DO speak the same language, when it comes to expressing the stories close to our heart and our home, our feelings on democracy, security, health, love, respect etc. And these issues and ideas are far from boring. Despite our differences, we 'Europeans' have an international heart, when it comes to work and play, from football, rugby, bicycle racing, to dance and music, film, literature, travel, food and drink, etc. . Making laws and regulations of course is not always 'hot' and exciting, but still, it is part of a wonderful, complex reality in the making. The Copenhagen Summit for instance has stirred up emotions on the "30 percent vow" throughout the whole EU. And all speak the language of concern, the wish to act and move forward wisely. Bloggingportal.eu was suggested as a natural forum at the blogger meet. Hopefully it will stir debate on how it's not easy being green.