22 February 2013

Spiegel: 'A timeless canon of values' - German President makes plea for more Europe

Such were the sentiments that German President Joachim Gauck acknowledged at the beginning of his keynote address on Europe, delivered on Friday in Berlin. It was the first major speech of his 11-month-old presidency, and it comes at a time when euroscepticism is widespread -- most notably in Britain, but also in Germany and across the EU. "It is still hard to pinpoint what it is that makes us European, what it means to have a European identity", he said, before attempting to provide a solution to the riddle. "Europe does have a source of identity: an essentially timeless canon of values which unites us at two different levels, both in our profession of respect for them and in the action we take to uphold them."

The European identity is not about excluding those who are different", he said. "Rather, European identity grows out of our deepening cooperation and the conviction of those who say we want to be part of this community because we share common values. More Europe means making diversity more genuinely part of our lives and allowing it to unite us." The German president noted the difficulties currently facing the EU and warned that further integration is needed in terms of financial and economic policy as well as foreign and defense issues. When it comes to the need for reform, he said, "We are in the midst of this discussion, not at the end", and urged that "We must prevent anyone being driven into the arms of populists and nationalists by uncertainty or fear".

Gauck addressed the scepticism toward Germany that has become widespread in Europe as the euro crisis has progressed, particularly in those countries labouring under onerous austerity programmes. "I want to assure all citizens of neighbouring countries that I cannot imagine any of Germany's policymakers seeking to impose a German diktat", Gauck said. "It is my heartfelt conviction that, in Germany, more Europe does not mean a German Europe. For us, more Europe means a European Germany."

Full article © Spiegel Online

Original speech © Bundespräsidialamt

Response from President Barroso

"This was a great and honest speech about Europe, for which I congratulate Federal President Gauck wholeheartedly. I fully share his appeal to citizens to develop an interest, to get involved, to make use of Europe's opportunities and discuss its perspectives.

This is precisely what I wish to see ahead of the European elections 2014: a genuine and broad debate on our common future. My vision of a democratic federation of nation states, which promotes its interests in a globalised world effectively and which guarantees freedom, democracy, security and prosperity for its citizens, can only be legitimised with such a debate."

Press release © European Commission