ࡱ> 8:7 bjbj 4    8CW ~cyyyyTTT$v~#TT#yy8 yyy`p] N0~|XT>,$TTT##|TTT~TTTTTTTTT : different strokes Baron Frankal For many, Europe is a slow march towards integration, signposted by the single market, open borders and the euro, although the next logical step, a common foreign policy, is proving impossibly difficult. With the recent clutch of No votes, and with more Member States determined to resist further integration, enthusiasts are turning in a direction previously beloved of sceptics: differentiated integration, aka concentric circles, Europe la carte and variable geometry. All mean the same thing: some but not all Member States moving forward. Although there have always been examples of micro-flexibility (like transition periods and exemptions) for decades, Member States actually opting out of proper policies was always taboo, hence the tight-knit community of 1957, with the wider, looser EFTA around it. The dam was breached in the 1990s, with the social chapter (with its maximum 48-hour week), Schengen (open borders) and monetary union. In each case, faced with a small number of refusniks (including in each case the UK), the rest went ahead anyway. It worked, as the others more or less joined later. The idea is even now incorporated into the Treaty, with just 8 Member States needed for enhanced co-operation, although it can only be done officially in limited policy areas and with heavy procedures that allow influence for the refusniks. One benefit is choice: countries can vote to stay out without sinking the whole project. It works too as a deterrent: Italy was scared into accepting the European arrest warrant when the others threatened to go ahead anyway and the same may happen with the Commissions controversial proposals for a common tax base, which aer on hold until Irelans next vote. So it has become common wisdom that far-reaching steps can only be made by the few - and so integrationists have signed up too. While the biggest of these fish is Chiracs pioneer group, the most articulate is Belgian prime-minister Guy Verhofstadt and his United States of Europe. This is based on the difficulties of such a large number and variety of Member States moving towards the political union Europe needs to sup at the same table as the US, China, India and Japan. Thus, a core group - the euro area - needs to go quickly forward in areas such as taxation, research and development, and a single area of justice, security - and of course foreign policy. Others form an outer organisation of European states. Verhofstadts proposals build on the existing structures of the countries that have already, with the euro, committed themselves more to commonality and convergence. The impetus is good but the logic is flawed - as could the single market, Europes foundation, survive such a divorce ? A Europe of different speeds is an idea whose time has come, but it is more likely to lead to minor experimentation than a new inner-Community. True integrationists best bet is still to hibernate for 20 years. First published in the budapest sun, 30 march 2006,  HYPERLINK "http://www.budapestsun.com/cikk.php?id=15125" http://www.budapestsun.com/cikk.php?id=15125     opq~L f  89LY^ȿschkhCCJ]aJmH sH hyhCCJ\]aJhkh.KCJaJhCCJaJh.KCJaJhkhCCJaJh4/hC6CJ aJ hzyh.K6CJaJh.K5CJaJhzyh.K5CJaJh.K5CJ\aJh.K5CJ \aJ hC5CJ \aJ hZ5CJ \aJ L :6$a$gdZ$dh7$8$H$a$gdC $dhxa$gdC$dhxa$gd.K $dha$gdCl 67qrḴ}y}y}y}yh "jh "Uh&4h.KhZ0J6CJaJ jh.KhZ6CJUaJh.KhZ6CJaJhZhyhCCJaJhyhCCJaJhCCJaJhkhCCJaJhkhCCJ]aJmH sH hkhCCJaJmH sH 21h:pC. 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