Translated from the French
You announced in the spring that France and Germany would take initiatives on the European front. Not much has happenend since. What intentions do you have?
Elections are coming up in Germany. Whoever is victorious will be Chancellor for four years, the same amount of time as is left of my mandate. This means that we will have enough time to launch initiatives on the European front.
I envisage three: advancing and putting content into the European projects in the areas of energy, new technologies and defence; improving the functioning of the euro area with better coordination of economic policies and fiscal and social harmonisation by introducing a minimum wage; and creating a forward-thinking Europe, which can operate in variable geometry depending on the subject. There is no need for treaty change in any of these points.
In the European elections of May 2014, how will these projects be able to stop the rise of populism?
There are three conditions. Firstly, we need to make Europe an area of growth and protection so that populists cannot make the construction of Europe responsible for our failures. Secondly, we must reinstil confidence into the European destiny, because when France is pessimistic, Europe as a whole cannot be in good spirits. That is why the EU can not simply be a management structure with a shoestring budget and rules that are perceived as constraints: it must become a project for the benefit of the people. Finally, Europe must show that it is useful to the world. What most struck me in the last fifteen months is Europe's obligation constantly to apologise - for the euro crisis, for having no growth, for not taking political initiatives. I do not want a Europe that has to excuse itself. I want a Europe that expresses something, that is a reference model. A proud Europe.
Ultimately, could this become a federal Europe?
I still do not see enough willingness to participate in a common ideal. I do not believe in a United States of Europe. Let us rather begin to ensure that the Member States are united for Europe.
Full interview (in French, subscription required)
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