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Ajouter un commentaireSpeculation over who will be the EU’s first president began when the draft Lisbon Treaty first emerged. The failure of Ireland’s first Lisbon Treaty referendum dampened the debate, but now that the second referendum has past, it’s a hot topic once again. Informal shortlists compiled by various journalists include potential candidates from a variety of EU member-states, ranging from current political leaders (Germany’s Angela Merkel), to public figures who haven’t served in over a decade (Ireland’s former President Mary Robinson). Names vary from one prediction to the next, but unfortunately, the constant fixture is Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
It’s unfortunate that arrows keep pointing at Blair, because frankly, he doesn’t represent Europe. In fact, he primarily represents two things, namely the UK and the Iraq war.
Most obviously, Blair represents Britain, the one member-state that truly personifies euro-skepticism. The British public are poorly informed and badly misguided by sensationalist reporting in the vast majority of British tabloids and newspapers. The UK has declined to take part in the Schengen agreement, which effectively removes borders and passport controls between participating EU and European states. More importantly, the British did not adopt the Euro, the common EU currency that has become a symbol of the success of European integration. Eurobarometer polls published a few months ago confirm widely held suspicions that the Brits are among the Europeans who value the EU and their EU membership the least. Perhaps worst is that these polls indicate that more than half of the British population does not have an interest in learning more about the EU. Suffice to say, putting a Brit at the head of the EU would be like asking an Italian to head up an anti-corruption body – the man himself may not be corrupt, but what he represents is largely perceived that way.
Some may argue Blair’s appointment would do the British good, that it would draw British attention to the new post, and to the EU itself. Perhaps, if the French and Germans can’t convince the UK of the merits of this Union they’ve been party to for more than thirty years, one of their own can. This argument is invalid and irrelevant. It is not the purpose of this new post to try and win over British hearts. Furthermore, it most likely wouldn’t to work. Blair may have fans in the UK, but he has many enemies too. With the next government predicted to be Conservative, we could potentially be thrusting the distrust and distaste that many Tories and Labour members have for each other into the spotlight. Cameron, likely to be the next British PM, bases much of his platform on the argument that he’ll undo the damages of Labour’s lengthy reign, which Blair headed for a decade.
Secondly, to many people, Blair represents the Iraq war – the fictional WMDs, the unethical warfare, hundreds of thousands of deaths, and counting. Blair’s decision to join Bush’s coalition of the willing in Iraq caused deep divisions within Europe, embarrassing the Union and drawing into question the ability of the EU to arrive at a common foreign policy. Admittedly, Blair was not the only European leader to invade Iraq in search of mythical weapons of mass destruction. However, he led the UK, one of the EU’s largest, oldest, and most influential members. By going against the German and French positions, he isolated himself from mainstream Europe. Additionally, by giving his approval he paved the way for other EU member-states to join the war as well. It seems unlikely that countries such as Denmark or Slovakia would have gone to Iraq if the Big 3 stood united in condemning the war.
Someone who represents the most euro-skeptic member-state and the war that divided Europe is hardly an ideal candidate for any top EU job. This position in question is commonly referred to as EU president, is actually President of the EU Council, with a term lasting two and a half years. Because it is a new position, much of the norms and practices surrounding the EU Council President’s work will be shaped by the first person appointed to hold it. Thus, it is essential that the first President be a uniting figure, someone representative of the EU and its further integration. Blair’s appointment is neither an effective, realistic nor appropriate way to resolve the UK’s European complex. His past record, particularly in Iraq, will make a mockery of the EU and the new reforms to be implemented by the Lisbon Treaty. Without question, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair should not be the first EU Council President.
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