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3/15/06

ceskenoviny.cz: Klaus warns against integration deepening without EU constitution

For the full report go to ceskenoviny.cz or click on link

Klaus warns against integration deepening without EU constitution

Berlin- Czech President Vaclav Klaus is afraid that the EU continues deepening its integration even without a European constitutional treaty, he says in the latest issue of the German weekly Der Spiegel, and warns against "the creeping process of unification" of the EU. "I can see that we find ourselves in a dangerous situation again. I've noticed that the deepening of EU [integration] unfortunately continues, even without a constitution, as a creeping process of unification - which is even more dangerous. It is very difficult to slow down this process, it continues without a massive participation of the public," Klaus told the magazine. "My criticism addresses the form and method of European integration," he points out. "There are hundreds of conclusions they send in from the EU headquarters. I consider, for example, the statements about a possible harmonisation of taxes in Europe to be especially warning, or the curbing of liberalisation in cross-border movement of services," Klaus says.
"For the last time I could not believe my own ears at hearing our own [Czech] EU commissioner, Vladimir Spidla, propose something I find incredible: [to establish] a fund for victims of globalisation. This is the purest imaginable communism, like in the [Leonid] Brezhnev era. At the time, too, people could not but learn from newspapers what deals the [communist] leaders had struck on their behalf. I can well remember that feeling of hopelessness," Klaus says.

Note editor EU-DIGEST: President Klaus seems to be right on target. It is high time the Commission and European politicians take some realistic steps to get EU Citizens involved in shaping the face of tomorrow's Europe. The EU does not need more faceless committees to review what its citizens need to do. Terrorism, religion and the exaggerated importance of the global market place are divisive issues and are distracting us from focusing on how to make our democracy, education, health, the economy, fair-trade, employment, and the environment work better, to benefit all the citizens of the EU. Together we must find issues that unite us, and make us proud to be European. Corporate Europe, which knows the true meaning of market research and promotion better than anyone else needs to step away from being just a critical bystander, and take an active part in this effort to help Europeans focus on their future. Nobody can be excluded in this process. The future of our children depends on it.

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