Notre Europe's viewpoint | 30/08/2006 

As Tony Blair decided when Britain took over the Union's Presidency last July, the EU's political agenda after the summer break will not only concentrate on priorities set some time ago but will also take into account the recent French and Dutch referendum campaigns. These popular rejections, generating disappointment and raising serious questions across the Union, have challenged the European model, certainly with regard to social issues but also as far as its democratic credentials are concerned. Comments and analyses will multiply over the coming months but, beyond any shadow of doubt, it is society at large that has brought itself into the European debate during the first semester 2005.

Tony Blair is putting himself on the line by trying to tackle fundamental matters head-on: he will have to subject these problems to public scrutiny whilst striving to avoid overly violent confrontation. However, the approach is praiseworthy as deep common reflection can only be a positive development. Notre Europe will contribute to this reflection in a number of its Autumn publications, the first of which will be devoted to the renewal of the contract linking the 25 member-states in social affairs.