The European Integration process as a source of inspiration for East - Asia Overcoming nationalisms for gaining more (popular)sovereignty Andreas Gross, Switzerland, M.P./C o E/ ADD Underwood-Forum/Seoul / - February 27 th 2006

Europeans learned after the biggest catastrophe of the 20th century  Why do we need catastrophes in order to learn and in order to realise big new political innovations ?  After the next global catastrophe there wont be much space for learning anymore !  To learn without catastrophes is much more challenging.

The main causes for the catastrophe were imperialism (econ+polit ) and nationalism  “The nation-state is not the appropriate entity for the organisation of human kind.” ( Altiero Spinelli,1941)  “If we are not able to establish strong European (transnational) institutions, a third world war will be difficult to avoid “ (Leon Blum, 1942)

the big project was to constitute a transnational, european polity (CoE) The cold war did not allow to realise this project. The cold war did not allow to realise this project. That’s why the European Integration process was since 1950 and 1957 treaty based, economically driven and an elite affair (EEC/EC/EU).

The European Integration Process is one of the great political success stories of the 2nd half of the 20.th c. E U started with 6 states; today 25, tom.27 and 30 states In the last 500 years Europe never had 60 years of peace EU helped to overcome faschism,nationalism,stalinism and militarism It combined economic development with social and regional sharing Never ever a war maker was so quickly reintegrated into a common polity for the sake of all

The genius of the European integration process: It’s value based and open to all who share these values The Human Rights and other basic Rights have to be respected (States might be challenged before European Courts in Strasburg and Luxemburg) The Human Rights and other basic Rights have to be respected (States might be challenged before European Courts in Strasburg and Luxemburg)  The EU states are committed to Democracy, the Rule of Law and a social market economy  The EU wants to integrate diversity, and does not confuse unity with uniformity

What the Europeans did after the war helps them today to face globalisation without loosing there achievements The one sided economic globalisation requires the constitution of a global polity (Cosmopolitan Democracy) in order to balance the global economic and political powers and in order to make them act responsible and respect the needs of those who can follow the markets The one sided economic globalisation requires the constitution of a global polity (Cosmopolitan Democracy) in order to balance the global economic and political powers and in order to make them act responsible and respect the needs of those who can follow the markets Popular sovereignties have to be pooled in order to establish transnational polities Popular sovereignties have to be pooled in order to establish transnational polities

The European Intregration process is in an political crises and has to be inspired by it’s roots and pre-cold-war-ideas  The Constitution Process started too late and too unseriously  Today Peoples have to be integrated, not only states  Europe has to be transformed from an elite project in a project shared by all Europeans  Democratisation, Decentralisation, and Integration by Participation will be the way

Questions for East-Asia in order to get inspired and for a inspiring discussion:  F/D/I: All lost, similar size, no one could dominate anymore – CH/K/J ?  Which could be the equal integration topic as the Coal&Steel-Union which integrated economic core sectors and created real common interests ?  If the elites do not want, how the others could push for ?

Democracy is the ground on which responsibility may grow People are related to each other People are related to each other No responsibility without relations No responsibility without relations The lack of responsibility has to be sanctioned The lack of responsibility has to be sanctioned That’s why you need a democratic polity (constitution) in which all actors, also those who are «only» concerned, are connected with each other That’s why you need a democratic polity (constitution) in which all actors, also those who are «only» concerned, are connected with each other

Democracy has to be constituted on the same level as the market in order to make it more respectful 150 years ago you had a balance between the national markets and national democracies 150 years ago you had a balance between the national markets and national democracies Today democracy lost power, the markets are less civilised and you have more and more irresponsibility Today democracy lost power, the markets are less civilised and you have more and more irresponsibility

The globalisation of the markets can’t be reversed; but democracy may be transnationally restored and even globalised Democracy building started in towns and regions – why should it end on the national level ? Democracy building started in towns and regions – why should it end on the national level ? Democracy legitimises politics and policies – it does not create a state Democracy legitimises politics and policies – it does not create a state That’s why we need more democracy on the supra-state level too and share the people’s sovereignity between the local, regional, national, European and global level That’s why we need more democracy on the supra-state level too and share the people’s sovereignity between the local, regional, national, European and global level

Progress and enlargement of the democratic polity are the condition for social rights and responsibility More democracy always means a new distribution of power More democracy always means a new distribution of power That’s why new and better institutions need strong people’s movements to impose new democracy building That’s why new and better institutions need strong people’s movements to impose new democracy building

Democracy needs enlargement and in deepening to guarantee social rights and responsibility in the global economy Priorities: European constitution European constitution Globalising the «Strasbourg-model» to approach global democracy Globalising the «Strasbourg-model» to approach global democracy Democratising democracy towards Direct Democracy Democratising democracy towards Direct Democracy