http://euobserver.com/9/24084
[Comment] Without the law there would be no European Union 18.05.2007 - 09:22 CET | By Peter Sain ley Berry EUOBSERVER / COMMENT - Go to any introductory lecture on the European Union and you will hear phrases such as 'unique experiment,' 'international co-operation,' 'rule of law.' [...] Member states even agreed to give 'European' law precedence over their own; there wouldn't be any point in having common laws if nations could pick and choose which they obeyed. [...] More serious is the case of Romania, which joined the Union only a few months ago on the solemn undertaking that widespread and irreversible reforms to root out crime and corruption were well on their way. Various pledges were made and accepted in good faith and the country, with Bulgaria, was admitted at the earliest opportunity in 2007. Once inside the Union, the Romanian Parliament has turned its back on reform, dismissed its anti-corruption prosecutors, thrown out its respected and efficient Justice Minister - Monica Macovei - and voted massively to impeach its pro-EU President. The country seems set to return to its old ways, even postponing its elections for the 35 seats in the European Parliament in case this should prove troublesome. Banana republic standards Many people argued that Romania and Bulgaria should not have acceded in 2007 but instead should have been forced to wait a year until the process of reform was complete. I argued this case myself. I could never understand why it was necessary to admit as full members countries described recently by The Times as 'weakened by systemic corruption, organised crime, fragile judiciaries and "oligarchic" control of press and broadcast media.' The Commission, I seem to remember, argued that if the two countries were not admitted in 2007 then the pace of reform would slow. Well, it has slowed now and we have within the bosom of the European Union a country whose respect for the very principle of law is in some doubt. All is not lost of course. The suspended President - Traian Basescu - may well win his forthcoming impeachment referendum, though the authorities are not making life easy for him. If he does he has promised to take action to weaken the party bosses. For its part the European Commission cannot simply wring its hands and hope that all will come right. Romania has broken the pledges it made. That cannot be without consequence and while there is no doubt that we all want to see Romania, growing and prospering as part of the European family, this has to be as a state with European rather than banana republic standards. The wider point is that we are in no position to deplore Romania's fall from grace if other member states also show themselves willing to renege on agreements and understandings when it suits them. Law can only work by consent. Respecting agreements, however uncomfortable, makes us all stronger. Ultimately we are our own policemen. It is not only Romania that must learn this. If we don't European Government will be reduced to the impotent position of Saint-Exupéry's King, who regaled on an impressive throne but without any other accoutrements of power, is reduced to ordering Le Petit Prince, sometimes to obey him and sometimes not to do so. Not exactly a recipe for success and progress. The author is editor of EuropaWorld © 2007 EUobserver ---------------------------- Vali "Noble blood is an accident of fortune; noble actions are the chief mark of greatness." (Carlo Goldoni) "When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace." (Jimi Hendrix)
