The German Bundestag has voted to ratify the EU Reform Treaty with the necessary two-thirds majority. During the debate that preceded the vote, Chancellor Angela Merkel praised the Treaty of Lisbon; which she said marked progress for Europe. The Charter of Basic Rights means that Europe is no longer merely a union for peace, liberty and security. It is now affirming its commitment to a common economic and social model. “The new treaty is good for Europe,” she declared.
The model combines economic success with social responsibility, said the Chancellor. "Our European Union is committed to the same values as those enshrined in the German social model. And that strengthens our voice in this era of globalisation, she underscored.
Five hundred and fifteen members of the German Bundestag voted to ratify the Reform Treaty. Fifty-eight voted against the motion and there was one abstention. The Bundesrat, the second chamber of the German parliament, will vote on the treaty on 23 May. Here too the treaty must be approved by a two-thirds majority. The treaty was negotiated to a large extent during the German EU presidency in the first half of 2007. It is to take the place of the planned European Constitution which was rejected in referendums in France and the Netherlands.
The Chancellor identified the most important changes in the treaty as the more democratic voting procedures in the councils, in addition to the creation of a new post of elected European Council President and a post of European Foreign Minister. Majority decisions will now be the rule rather than requiring unanimous decisions. "This will help us overcome gridlock,” explained the Chancellor.
The Chancellor also welcomed the fact that the treaty accords national parliaments more rights, and provides for better coordination in the justice and security sectors. In addition, EU member states will be working more closely in future on the "issues that will shape the future”, such as environmental and climate protection.
Shaping globalisation together
The Chancellor was convinced that the EU and its 500 million citizens will gain more political weight thanks to the Treaty of Lisbon. "If we work together, we are a force that cannot simply be ignored in the world,” she underscored.
The EU will now be better able to assume its responsibility to shape the political side of globalisation. It is important to transfer the fundamental principle of the social market economy, i.e. regulated competition, to the EU. Alongside an "economic order with a human face”, the basics include "values-related foreign policy, climate and environmental protection, the securing of energy supplies and regulated migration and integration policy”.
Brussels, Berlin or Schwerin
In future it will become increasingly important to balance national and European responsibilities, said Angela Merkel. To date the European path has been a path of integration. Now the time has come to ask at what level a specific task can best be performed: in Brussels, Berlin, Schwerin or Mainz.
Angela Merkel emphasised the importance of the principle of subsidiarity. This says that a task should preferably be performed at a lower level (the national level) rather than at a higher level (the European level), when the lower level is equally well able to do so. The new treaty in fact gives national parliaments the right to demand that the principle be respected, provided the motion is carried by one quarter of the members of the national parliament. "This brings us a good bit closer to the people,” emphasised Angela Merkel. She called on the members of the Bundestag to make European debates German debates.
The Treaty of Lisbon must be ratified by all member states. This is to be completed by June 2009. Currently eight states have already ratified the treaty: in order of ratification date they are Hungary, Slovenia, Malta, Romania, France, Bulgaria, Poland and Slovakia. In Austria the lower house of parliament has already voted in favour of the treaty, but the upper house has still to vote.
