At the European Council held last June, the good intentions of the Heads of State were once again reflected in activating those axes that should be emphasized so that there is a before and after in the management of the crisis and, above all, those policies that restore hope to its victims, that is, those who have lost their jobs, those who have lost their homes, or those who have seen their hopes of recovering their previous lives perish.
However, none of the Council's conclusions are new. It's more of the same. It is a repetition of the good wishes that, in each meeting of the Heads of State, are repeated like a mantra that, unfortunately, takes time to materialize into real solutions. The most significant thing is that the Council recognizes that it is still trying, without success, to find the key that puts an end to the divorce that exists today between citizens and European institutions.
And it does so with a declaration of intent that is far from the guidelines of its policy of severe austerity, especially with the countries of Southern Europe. Will there be a shift from Junker, who, during his eight years at the head of the Eurogroup, was one of the main drivers of the harsh bailouts imposed on countries such as Greece and Portugal and a defender of austerity? Will he abide by the Council's decision that there should be greater flexibility when applying fiscal austerity to boost growth? Or will he draw a line that will stretch into the horizon and force us to make new adjustments, such as those that the Spanish Government has committed to making in 2015?
What does the slogan of the last Council really consist of, in which it is assured that, in this new legislative cycle, there will be a commitment to a Union of employment, growth and solidarity? In what timeframe will these challenges be met? When is it planned to activate investments and how will job creation be articulated?
We are assured that the Union must be stronger externally and more supportive internally. Ignoring the extreme weakness of European foreign policy, whose capacity to influence international disputes is a chimera, I will focus on the internal part. We are promised that all Member States must guarantee efficient, fair and future-proof social protection networks. How does Spain plan to guarantee these networks if the forecasts it has sent to Brussels for next year go in the opposite direction?
And, above all, how does our country plan to fulfill the commitment set at the European Council to address climate change when its commitment is to continue opening doors to the dirtiest and most polluting energies in its marine areas richest in diversity? Did Spain put on the table that its project to fight climate change is to give the green light to oil platforms to be part of the landscape of the Canary, Valencian and Balearic coasts?
And a classic in most meetings of Heads of State: immigration. Will Spain allow its community partners to persist in their unjustified headlong flight, avoiding setting a common policy that goes beyond the patches that it applies in a hasty manner every time its role is questioned in the deadly tragedies?
In terms of foreign policy, they have once again put at the top of the agenda that the Union must be a strong partner with respect to our neighbors, including Africa, through the promotion of stability, prosperity and democracy. In the absence of concrete policies on the part of Spain, we hope that, in this new cycle, there will be a real commitment on the part of Europe to rely on one of its main platforms to promote trade and cooperation with Africa. I am referring to the Canary Islands. An archipelago that has potential that is taken into account, for example, by the United States Chamber of Commerce, but which, inexplicably, is ignored by Europe.
In short, nothing new in the first meeting of Heads of State after the European elections. And that, despite the advance of populists and those forces that row against the Union itself. It is no coincidence that socialists and populars, the same ones who share the positions of the Parliament, the Commission and the Council, have lost weight in the European Chamber. It is the consequence of the distrust of citizens in those who have buried those policies that allowed Europeans to work in decent conditions and to grow in a balanced way, without the social and geographical fracture that has reopened between the North and the South.
When is the European Council going to realize that it cannot continue with its current policy? We need to move from good intentions to rapid action to promote job creation, improve working conditions and the survival of public services. Otherwise, the response will be more disaffection and more arguments for those who are lurking to put an end to the European project.
These are some of the reflections that, as a Canarian nationalist, I will raise on Wednesday to the President of the Government in the debate that will be held in Congress on the last European summit.
Ana Oramas, Deputy of the Canarian Coalition