Franco-German Friendship and the Destination of Federalism (1999)

Abstract

Just as the early years of the Major government focused on forging a new cooperative relationship with the EU – the ‘heart of Europe’ strategy – so the election victory of New Labour in May 1997 has rekindled the idea that British leadership in Europe can coincide with greater harmony in the pursuit of common objectives. Tony Blair has forcefully articulated his hope that Britain can lead in Europe through a policy of constructive engagement rather than reluctant semi-detachment. Addressing the 1997 Labour conference he declared that ‘it is our destiny to lead in Europe. And Europe needs us. For we have a vision of Europe … a people’s Europe’.1 In his celebrated speech to the French National Assembly in March 1998 he stated that ‘we have had the courage to create the European Union. We must now have the courage to reform it’.2 Similarly, writing in The Times in December 1998 he declared that, ‘I want Britain to be a leading partner in Europe, engaged in shaping its future … And I can deliver it … There are real debates in Europe. Do we want economic reform or corporatism? Do we want a Europe which is building bridges or barriers to the US? … And there is a genuine debate about the European Social Model’.3