Editorial: Fifty years to be proud of

The EU kicked off 2007 in typical fashion, by expanding. Romania and Bulgaria joined the trading bloc to a muted round of applause from other European states. While Sofia and Bucharest popped their champagne corks, many other European countries were busy tightening the strings on their labor markets, thereby restricting the benefits afforded to the member states.

Growing pains

In its 50th year, the EU is plagued with self-doubt and questions are being raised as to what role it plays and how effective it is at achieving its aims. Economic growth in the bloc has been sluggish - it should come in at 2.7 percent in 2006, which trails the US.

The EU ran aground most spectacularly over its ill-fated Constitution, which failed to get the popular support it needed to become a reality, despite a wave of referendums that did little to elevate the bloc in the eyes of the euroskeptics. Many countries, such as Italy and France, are beginning to wonder whether their involvement in the EU's most ambitious project, the single currency, is a good thing, and some new member states, particularly Poland, are showing a marked reluctance to relinquish their own currencies.

Cultural disputes are also beginning to rear their ugly heads. Recent enlargements have pushed the patience of many already within the EU, and any further widening of the club to include members that are considered culturally distant from 'old' Europe, Turkey in particular, will be a hard sell for Brussels.

Cause for celebration

However, for all its pains, the EU is an astounding achievement and deserves to be celebrated in 2007.

In 1957, many European countries were still repairing their economies after the still-fresh ravages of the Second World War. The US and the Soviet Union were swiftly establishing themselves as the world's superpowers, and roughly half of Europe was laboring under non-democratic leadership.

Now, 50 years later, we have a union of 27 countries with a population of 490 million. The single market has been a great success and the free movement of workers and capital, with some regrettable exceptions, is an admirable achievement. Perhaps most impressive of all, the EU has brought political stability to Europe. The key to ensuring a peaceful Europe in the wake of the Second World War was getting France and Germany to work together. The EU has insisted that countries be run on democratic principles, bringing peace and prosperity to a continent.

Practical solutions

The EU now faces a number of very practical issues, and it should look for practical solutions. The bloc is still overly dependent on Russia for its energy and has taken a softly, softly approach in energy negotiations. It would do well to remember that the Russian economy is as dependent on the EU as a consumer of its oil and gas energy, as the EU's industries are dependent on Russian energy.

Member states have in some cases sought to protect their labor markets. The restrictions placed on new member state workers should be removed. Labor mobility is one of the bloc's strongest achievements and it should not be blunted for the sake of quelling dissenting, nationalist voices on the domestic front. 

The European Union is an ambitious and laudable project. It has enjoyed staggering success in its first 50 years of life. Its older members may be feeling somewhat jaded with their efforts to secure a more unified front on a range of issues, but they would do well to take some inspiration from the enthusiasm shown by some of the younger members and work with them to present a clear idea for where the bloc is going in the next 50 years. The EU is a vital institution, and one that should be supported and celebrated now and in the future.