The leaders of the European Union met in the Belgian capital in an attempt to save it, but concluded that the only reasonable solution was to adopt a scaled-down version, called the Constitutional Act. The midget constitution will come into force by 2009.
"Midget" in this case is not an insult, but a statement of fact. Owing to the efforts of Britain, the new constitution no longer includes the Charter of Fundamental Rights. This has deprived it of legal power and nullified its political weight.
One of the key obstacles to adopting the Constitution was its inefficient decision-making mechanism, which is a major drawback in these fast-moving times. The decision on a limited constitution came as a result of a compromise with Poland, which had fought tooth and nail against Germany and France for greater voting weight.
It was eventually decided to introduce "a clearer and more democratic" principle of adopting European decisions based on the double majority of the states and population. A law will be adopted if it meets the approval of at least 55% of the Union's member states representing at least 65% of the Union's population.
This inefficient and cumbersome formula has been complicated by the fact that countries failing to form a blocking minority may postpone the adoption of the law and propose further negotiations. Just like the removal of the Charter of Fundamental Rights, this formula amounts to a very expensive compromise. Besides, the new voting system will come into force only in 2014, and a transition period is stipulated until 2017.
In short, the EU's progress has been seriously slowed down, like a person trying to run in a sack.
It is good that the EU leaders have agreed on who will fill the posts of president and high commissioner for the common foreign policy. But will they be able to work effectively when there is no unity? The Constitutional Act does not stipulate a common flag or anthem, only a hope that the EU will have them in the future. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said: "I think we will need to have a [common] flag and sing a [common] anthem."
As leader of Germany, the EU's current president, Merkel has done her best to lead the member states out of the constitutional labyrinth. Unfortunately, the EU has immediately plunged into another maze.
The European media are divided over the decision to adopt a constitutional act instead of a fully-fledged constitutional treaty. Some hail it, while others are deeply disappointed.
Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi, who was president of the European Commission until 2004, is apparently disappointed that there is no unity between the old and new EU members, and no hope for attaining it. Some new members, such as Poland, led by the Kaczynski twins Lech and Jaroslaw, do not work for common European interests, preferring instead to look to Washington.
Poland's behavior in Brussels was irrational and ethically questionable, since New Europe has been warned against bringing up the Second World War so as not to hurt Germany's feelings.
It was a second stone thrown by the Polish leaders at Germany. The first one concerned the North European Gas Pipeline project. In general, Warsaw has been trying to expose an alleged anti-Polish conspiracy involving Germany and Russia.
Poland was also the only country in Brussels whose president could not make a decision independently. Lech Kaczynski phoned his brother Jaroslaw to discuss every minor point, which made the complicated talks even more painful.
The above problems are a result of a hasty expansion of the Union, where quantity has taken the upper hand over quality. Old members' dreams of turning the EU into a powerful political and economic community with common goals and aspirations, which would become a counterbalance to the United States and the rising Asian tigers, have been dashed.
Worse still, the EU leaders have not drawn the proper conclusions from their main mistake. The German chancellor said that the new treaty opens the door to a new expansion of the Union. Croatia will soon become the 28th member, and Turkey may be next in line, which will make life in Old Europe even merrier.
The opinions expressed in this article are the author's and do not necessarily represent those of RIA Novosti.
