The Hindu : Other States / Rajasthan News : `European Union still has identity problems'

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Wednesday, Feb 09, 2005

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`European Union still has identity problems'

By Our Special Correspondent

JAIPUR, FEB. 8. Parliamentarians from the European Union have forecast stability for the European currency, Euro, even as the nascent union of 25 nations is trying to become a cohesive political and economic entity.

"We hope Euro will be a stable currency. It has been at times even stronger than the dollar in the past and it will emerge stronger,'' Karl von Wogau, chairman of the economic committee of the European Union Government, said addressing an interactive meeting here this past week-end. The meeting was hosted jointly by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Konrad Adneauer Foundation.

"We need to break down the remaining trade barriers within the EU nations before making ourselves better understood by the rest of the world,'' said Dr. Wogau, who is also the chairman of the sub-committee on defence and security of the EU Government.

The members of the EU parliamentary delegation, who were on a two-day visit here, conceded that the union still had identity problems and was yet to draw up common laws on foreign affairs and security.

"Please look at us as one entity and don't see us as Germany, France or any other individual nation,'' Hans-Gert Poettering, chairman of the People's Party, the biggest group in the ruling coalition in EU, said. "Our task now is to prevent the so-called clash of civilisations,'' he said referring to the need for nations to know each other within and outside EU in the post-globalisation scenario.

A senior parliamentarian, Falk-Ulrich von Hoff said there were no trade barriers within the 25 member nations in the union. However aspects like having a common asylum law for the whole of Europe and a Constitution would have to be worked out. "We are about to get a new treaty signed on the Constitution and thereafter the union would have a Foreign Minister as well,'' he pointed out.

The chairman of the Konrad Adneauer Foundation, Gunter Rinsche, said the members were in India to "intensify'' contacts. "We need to get to know about each other more,'' he said.

The interactive session was also addressed by B.P. Dhaka, secretary general of PHDCC; J. Wolff, resident representative of EU in New Delhi; Navaid Khan, CEO of Airtel, Jaipur; Chandrakant Naidu, Resident Editor, Hindustan Times, Jaipur; and Pawan Surana, chairperson of the Rajasthan State Women's Commission.

The EU delegation also called on the Governor, Pratibha Patil, and Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje. Rajasthan is considered to be one of the States where EU would be setting up projects on integrated water management, education and also would work with the State Government on financial accountability and reforms.

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