Gerhard Schröder: Don't strangle Europe with austerity

In my view, to this end the European institutions must be reformed to increase their capability:

• The European Commission must be further developed into a government elected by the European Parliament.
• The European Council must give up powers and should be transformed into an upper chamber with similar functions to, for example, the Bundesrat in Germany.
• The European Parliament must have increased powers, and in future it should be elected via pan-European party lists with top candidates for the post of president of the commission.

A European convention is part of a process of renewal that leads to Europe-wide discussions. In my time in office, Germany initiated the convention to develop a European Charter of Fundamental Rights and a constitution for Europe. The debates were about democratization, accessibility, and clarification of responsibilities within the European Union — the delimitation of powers between the EU and member states.

Unfortunately, the constitution for Europe came to nothing, but many of its elements are present in the Treaty of Lisbon. I think it is now time for a core of states ready for integration to initiate a new convention for the future of Europe.

This development is now important because we need an integrated Europe more than ever. In global political and economic competition only a united Europe will stand a chance, because a nation state alone, even a strong Germany, is too weak.

We can survive between the centers of power – the United States and China – if we continue the path to integration. Then the European Union will remain a socially, economically, culturally, and politically successful community that will be a model for other regions. Europeanization is a rational political response to globalization.

Gerhard Schröder is the former chancellor of Germany.

© 2012 Global Viewpoint Network/Tribune Media Services. Hosted online by The Christian Science Monitor.

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