民主主義、新たな雇用と成長
我々はドイツから描く教訓は成長があれば構造改革だけ実を結ぶことができるということです。ベルリンでは、これら2つのポリシーを調整するために、そのメンバーの機会を与えなければならない
Democracy, new jobs and growth
The lesson we draw from Germany is that structural reforms can only bear fruit if there is growth. Berlin must give its members the opportunity to reconcile these two policies
LA CUARTA PÁGINA
Democracia, nuevo empleo y crecimiento
La lección que extraemos de Alemania es que las reformas estructurales solo pueden dar fruto si hay crecimiento. Berlín debe dar la oportunidad a sus socios de hacer compatibles esas dos políticas
Gerhard Schröder / Jacques Delors 24 MAY 2013 - 00:00 CET
THE FOURTH PAGE
Democracy, new jobs and growth
The lesson we draw from Germany is that structural reforms can only bear fruit if there is growth. Berlin must give its members the opportunity to reconcile these two policies
Gerhard Schröder / Jacques Delors 24 MAY 2013 - 00:00 CET
The economic turmoil of recent years have helped Europe has taken new steps towards greater integration, starting with the financial stabilization measures and for a banking union project is still under construction. By now, everyone knows already that having a single monetary zone without a common fiscal policy is an invitation to the type of crisis we have experienced.
However, Europe has come to this point reluctantly and subject to great stress, based on a series of agreements between government leaders who, in the opinion of many, are allowing larger and more powerful states impose their undemocratic policies others. In several countries, especially Italy, Greece and Spain, in which the social costs of adjustment have been particularly high, is producing an increasingly widespread reaction against the very idea of Europe.
Moreover, a while now, we can observe the worrying rise of parties and movements that seem to think that they deliver nationalist reassertion of common imperatives involving European government or believe that protectionism will allow them to avoid the obligation of find a way to solve the lack of European competitiveness.
What is already undeniable is that European citizens are not willing to move forward on the path of reform and integration if they are not given a voice in determining the direction, and while there is an employment program Emergency common to show that Europe is good for something.
Attempts reforms we have seen so far in Europe allow us to draw several lessons.
You must be a correlation between the will
to make structural reforms and
will
for solidarity
First lesson: between the time you need to make the tough decisions and the time in which the reforms take effect and embodying the results takes some time. In some cases, as in Germany, this interval may be up to five years. And that is a problem for politicians in this period when elections are held, as we have seen in Italy.
Second, structural reforms can only bear fruit if done in conjunction with measures of growth. Overall, the current debate is a repetition of already had in 2003 and 2004 with regard to the European Pact for Stability and Growth.
The intention of Germany and France to reform then the covenant was not lowering standards. What worried us, however, was to strengthen the growth facet, because Germany, at that time, could not maintain a capacity to save billions of euros and simultaneously implement reform policies.
Today, Germany should be given the same opportunity to its European partners. Greece, Ireland, Portugal, Italy and Spain have made progress in restructuring their financial sectors. And Cyprus will have to follow the same direction.
Also, the political and economic situation of the countries in difficulty has taught us that the savings alone is not sufficient to overcome the crisis. On the contrary, there is a risk that national economies look almost completely strangled by strict austerity policy. It has been shown that, while carrying out structural reforms, these countries also need help.
It is mandatory that there is always a correlation between the willingness to undertake structural reforms and a willingness to be supportive. It is not a choice between "growth or austerity." We are convinced that the two policies can be combined intelligently, indeed, be combined. We need budget discipline, we need structural reforms, but the austerity program must be accompanied by growth factors.
In this context, a key aspect is the fight against youth unemployment in Europe. We can not resign ourselves to having a "lost generation" ever wider across the continent because, in many countries, over half of young people are unemployed. European leaders will attend the open meeting Berggruen Institute in Paris on May 28 address this issue and present their proposal for a "new deal for Europe."
Europe can return to work if the governments and social partners support a new youth employment initiative
And in this issue plays a very important responsibility of the German Government. In Germany, youth unemployment is below 8%. Many young people of southern European countries seeking career there. However, the migration of a young workforce well prepared can not be the solution to the problem, because men and women to be in these circumstances are taking their titles and their preparation of their country. Consequently, what we need is a great program designed to address the problem of youth unemployment at European level. The most powerful countries in Europe, particularly Germany, have the opportunity to demonstrate their political and economic responsibility in this situation.
Moreover, the elections to be held in May 2014 Parliament offered to all European citizens the opportunity to have a voice in the development of our common future. For the first time since the founding of the EU, the strongest parties in the new parliament will have the power to elect the head of the EU executive, the president of the Commission. So far, the president was nominated by the European Council representing the member countries of the Union.
If elections that produce that House have abundant participation of European citizens, the new chairman of the Commission shall have the same democratic legitimacy than any national leader in a parliamentary system. The vacuum that existed in Europe by the fact of not having that legitimacy-with consequent inability to make real and effective action on behalf of all European citizens-is resolved.
If candidates competing for parliamentary seats based programs present their visions of Europe, the 2014 elections could also lay the groundwork for the new European Parliament serve as a "constitutional convention" and can decide what skills should assume Brussels -financial stability, trade and immigration, for example-and what must remain, for the most part, the responsibility of the Member States.
Europe can return to work if the governments, unions, businesses and civil society join forces to support a new youth employment initiative and support the intent that the 2014 elections will mean providing additional legitimacy and democracy to the Government of the Union .
Gerhard Schröder was chancellor of Germany. Jacques Delors was president of the European Commission. Both are members of the Council for the Future of Europe Berggruen Institute. © Global Viewpoint Network / Berggruen Institute.
Translation of Maria Luisa Rodriguez Tapia.
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