E3G

‘Europe in the World’ Press Release

By Chris Littlecott

Europe in the World: Political choices for security and prosperity. Press Release 11/12/06.

EU Leaders Urged to make Climate and Energy Security their Defining Mission in the 21st Century

European budget must focus on future challenges to re-establish popular support for Europe, according to new paper  

In a new paper from E3G entitled ‘Europe in the World - Political Choices for Security and Prosperity’, European leaders are urged to take a new set of political choices which would ensure Europe’s security and prosperity in an interdependent world.

The paper argues that global interdependence is the new context within which Europe must act. The biggest global problems that will dominate the 21st Century, from terrorism to climate change, from mass migrations to organised crime, cannot be solved by nations acting alone. They can only be tackled successfully by deploying exactly the soft power that Europe has built over the last half century.

The growing impacts of climate change and the related problems of energy security exemplify this challenge at the global scale. Faced with such a task, Europe cannot afford to wait if it wants to ensure its security and prosperity over the coming decades. Instead, it should seize the opportunity to provide global leadership, becoming a pathfinder for a global low-carbon economy.

Concerted European action on climate security and energy security would enable Europe to solve its own internal policy challenges, whilst developing strategic global alliances, notably through investing in a successful China, which are way beyond the reach of the foreign policies of the past. 

Moreover, by making climate and energy security its defining mission, Europe can cultivate a much deeper level of support for its activities amongst its citizens. At present,
an anxious Europe, lacking in confidence, is failing to connect with its citizens. If Europe is to lead the way globally, it must engage its citizens directly in shaping the future of Europe.

The paper makes the radical proposal that European citizens should be involved in a participatory budget process during the forthcoming review of the EU budget. This should culminate on the day of the European Parliament elections in 2009 when all citizens should be asked to rank their preferences for EU spending.

E3G’s new paper outlines the specific political choices which Europe and its citizens must make if these 21st Century challenges are to be met, including:

Redefining Success: Economic success must be defined by meaningful measures of sustainable prosperity such as well-being, income stability, environmental quality and social mobility.

Building Inter-generational Cooperation: Europe must build a new intergenerational contract between young and old, where future risks are shared between generations.

A European budget for the future:  European spending should invest in managing the future instead of the past. Spending should drive innovation, resource-efficient infrastructure, low-carbon technology and external stability.

Pamphlet co-author Tom Burke said:
“It is both indefensible and irresponsible that Europe continues to spend 46% of its budget on a problem of the past, and next to nothing on climate change - the most important problem of the future.”

Speaking ahead of his participation in the pamphlet launch, Corrado Clini, Director General of the Italian Environment Ministry, said:
“The reality of global interdependence will be felt increasingly strongly over the coming years as the world experiences the impact of growing resource constraints. Europe is uniquely placed to be a pathfinder for the transition to sustainable development, taking on a role as leader and facilitator of a global response.”

Pamphlet co-author and E3G Chief Executive Nick Mabey said:
“The biggest challenges facing Europe are no longer internal but external, and Europe itself is the only actor capable of leading the global cooperation needed to solve them. Energy and climate security are the most urgent threats we face, by delivering them for its citizens Europe can show its true relevance for the next 50 years.”

Pamphlet Launch event

E3G will present the pamphlet on 11th December at 6pm at The Centre, 22 Ave Marnix B-1000. Reflections on the pamphlet will be given by Margot Wallström Vice-President, European Commission, John Ashton, Special Representative for Climate Change, UK Foreign Office and Dr Corrado Clini, Director General Italian Environment Ministry.

Notes for Editors

1. E3G is an independent not-for-profit organisation, based in London and Berlin, which works in the public interest to accelerate the global transition to sustainable development. Further details are available at http://www.e3g.org

2. The ‘Europe in the World’ pamphlet follows a series of ‘thinking events’ held across Europe over the past 18 months with policy-makers and politicians.

3. The pamphlet argues for a new understanding of the political context of global interdependence and sets out five critical political choices which will define the future of Europe. These also include:

Achieving Energy Security and Climate Security: Europe must develop a secure, low carbon economy without waiting for others. Progress towards achieving these twin goals should become the critical measure by which Europe’s future success is judged.
Investing in a successful China: Europe must engage positively with China on the basis of mutual interests. Europe best defends its core economic and security interests by investing in China’s development as a stable economy and society.

4. Further information on the ‘Europe in the World’ pamphlet, translated versions, downloadable resources and news of related activities can be found at http://www.europeintheworld.eu from 11th December 2006.

For further press enquiries relating to the pamphlet launch please contact:

Rachael Kenningham,
The Centre Avenue Marnix laan 22, B - 1000
Phone: +32 2 548 02 84 Brussels
Fax: +32 2 548 02 61
Mob: +32 497 147 119