Global multilateralism in the Conference on the future of Europe?

Exactly one year ago I had organized, together with Professor Vasile Pușcaș,  a debate in Brussels in which we made the connection between European political parties and the evolution of world governance.

 

Given that many impactful events have taken place over the last 12 months, and I am thinking in particular of the pandemic crisis and the American elections, I now return with a brief analysis of the current situation.

 

The new US president has returned to the responsible approach of the United States, and global issues are much more decently addressed now. An interesting narrative about fair multilateralism is emerging, and the European Union wants to play an active role there. The United States and the EU are hit by a pandemic and global crisis, and both their approaches and results are different. The United Nations has once again shown that the current organizational structure cannot cope with its complexity, so talking about the evolution of global governance is even more relevant.

 

European political parties, defined by its leaders as a "bridge between national and Brussels reality" (EPP), "an effective tool for global accountability" (Greens), want “transnational issues to be addressed in global structures˝ (PES). However, if we analyze what events marked the European political parties in recent months, we noticed the struggle of the Hungarian Prime Minister Orban with the EPP and we observe a bud of cooperation between the Socialist Group in the European Parliament and the Global Progressive Alliance.

 

Due to ongoing restrictions, most European political parties have not been able to hold Congresses in the classic format, with virtually all major decisions therefore suspended. Even the debate on the future of Europe, scheduled to begin in May 2021, does not seem to animate party structures.

 

Often a new, external factor coagulates unexpected internal forces. The emergence of the anti-Corona movements, which has global political potential, may suggest that European parties are actively triggering international doctrinal movements. There are the necessary actors, we have the subject and only the vision of the leaders is still missing. If I am referring to the main European forces, it is interesting to find out the opinion of PES, EPP, Liberals or Greens on the evolution of global multilateralism and why not on the idea of ​​having a Global Parliament, inspired by the institutional construction of the European Parliament.

 

An integrated vision of the Conference on the Future of Europe is needed, by simultaneously addressing the 5 major European priorities: deepening European integration, European sovereignty, global multilateralism, greening and digitalisation.

 

Dan LUCA / Brussels