First Step Toward United Government of Europe

With U.S. speeding up his race backed by overwhelming superiority of military power since the Sept. 11 terrorism, Europe took the first step toward the construction of its own `United States of Europe`.

EU on the 28th last month held the `Convention on the Future of Europe` in Brussels, Belgium, and started its l year’s long way to organize the United Government of Europe democratic, transparent and efficient.

The chair of the convention, former French president Valery Giscard d`Estaing urged in the opening session speech, “we must set up more powerful and gigantic Europe through the establishment of united constitution. ”

Romano Prodi, president of the EU`s executive Commission, stressed, “the EU needs a constitution to bolster rights and to give Europe a stronger voice on the world stage. We must move toward an ever-closer union among the peoples of Europe. ”

105 persons who were drawn from each of the 15 EU governments, national legislatures, the European Parliament, along with observers from the candidate countries participated in the convention. 20 sessions in a year will be open live on the web.

The central issues are △ selecting EU’s executive commission president by direct vote of Europe citizens, △ minimizing the veto right of the members to secure quick decision making, and expanding the majority vote of all members and △ giving equal voting right to all members.

Dominant view is that it should come over lots of barriers, as U.K. and Italy insist the loose federation of Europe countries.

But this convention is meaningful for the map of world politics and strategy in that Europe for the first time started long term political discussion to make one Europe.

Jei-Gyoon Park phark@donga.com