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Citizens’ responsibility in the Etats Généraux de l’Europe in Strasbourg.

EuropaNova President

William Klossa (www.guillaume-klossa.eu) is committed in the European integration since 2003 by creating and chairing EuropaNova NGO (www.europanova.eu) and the Etats Généraux de l\'Europe in 2007, inn addition to a career in the services industry, new technologies and media. Former special adviser to Jean-Pierre Jouyet during the French presidency of the European Union, he also attended the European Council think tank on the future of Europe where he was the adviser of Nicole Notat.

1 / How was the idea of the Etats-Généraux de l’Europe born? What is the purpose of this event?



The idea started after the report \"Can we build Europe without Europeans?\" that EuropaNova had made for the European Council in June 2006 and which highlighted both a lack of dialogue between different stakeholders in Europe and a lack of places to discuss and express the collective pride that we had managed to build for nearly 60 years. Finally, the French and Dutch No had created a real depression in the European civil society. It was very important that all those who believe that together we are better equipped to defend our interests and act for fairer and more effective global governance be able to meet. Thus were born the Etats Généraux. EuropaNova launched the idea in the summer of 2006, with the financial support of the Parliament. In parallel, the first one to believe in it, along with Jacques Delors, whose commitment to our cause has been paramount, was Gaetane Ricard-Nihoul from Notre Europe. Then, the elected president of the European Movement France, Sylvie Goulard wished to join the initiative. The organizing committee EuropaNova -European Movement-France-Notre Europe was born. People such as Jean-Francois Rial, president of World Travelers and Bruno Bonduelle had also been mobilized. Le Figaro has also joined the group... The first Etats Généraux de l\'Europe was held in Lille, on the 17th of March 2007, the second in Lyon June 21, 2008.


Rather than a demonstration, the Etats Généraux de l\'Europe are a collective effort involving hundreds of associations, NGOs, media and businesses working together for a year to identify themes and priority issues. The beautiful day that gathered us on April 17 this year, in Strasbourg is only the visible part of this dynamic. This is just the part when all stakeholders, citizens, intellectuals, businessmen, politicians, economic and social meet, chat and exchange, to make concrete proposals. These proposals give rise to a synthesis which is then presented to the leaders of the Union. The main challenge for the future is that these proposals be transformed into concrete political realities.


2 / After Lille and Lyon, what is your assessment of this third edition of the États-Généraux in Strasbourg?


Firstly, despite the \"Iceland cloud\", the event was a new success because we have managed to gather a lot of young people, which is quite rare in this type of event and this represents a real satisfaction for us creators and organizers of the États-Généraux, but also an increased number of associated organizations (110 against 50 in 2007 and 80 in 2008).

Secondly, the recognition of European and national institutions of the Etats généraux as a major if not the most important meeting between EU citizens and EU decision makers, among which leaders like the French Minister Pierre Lellouche, European Commissioner for Energy Gunther Oettinger (his first participation in an event like this), and especially the presence throughout the morning of European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso that sent a strong message to the civil society.

Then, the relevance of an expanded organizing committee, the presence of EADS, Arte, the CFDT, the MEDEF and Confrontations Europe alongside founders’ movements was a real mutual enrichment and contributed to the quality of the Etats Généraux.

But what touched me the most is the positive spirit and desire to act and plan together, which reigned in Strasbourg during the event.


3 / Will the debates and discussions of this day lead to more concrete proposals to the European institutions?


The discussion led to concrete proposals. Each of the 18 workshops made a specific recommendation. An initial oral summary was presented at the plenary evening. Among these proposals, we can name: the creation of a common energy market, the development of a common military culture and a common military training, the creation of a European cultural base... José Manuel Barroso, President of the Commission asked the organizers to officially hand him the report and prepare recommendations and he undertook to examine those who were in his area of competence. Isabelle Durant, Vice-President of the European Parliament, in charge of civil society, was interested to see those which could give rise to a citizens\' initiative, a new instrument under the Lisbon Treaty....

4 / The main theme this year was the responsibility of European citizens. In your opinion, what can be done today to engage and involve citizens in the European project?


The main subject was the Europeans’ responsibility in general; in relation to various challenges: political, economic, climate related, energy, geopolitics of the world. Citizens as well as companies or unions have an important responsibility, but not to be mistaken, the major responsibility lies in the hands of policymakers. In order to interest people, they should feel and show in practice that Europe can make a difference. Europe must also be a real political area and the Union must be able to make real political decisions that are not just weak consensus. The president, the High representative must act as leader but it will not be enough. European elections must represent a clear challenge for the citizens, namely that each party must choose a European candidate for the presidency and a program. But we also need a common framework that allows us to be part of history and a common perspective, if not the meaning of the word Union will continue to vary from one state to another and the misunderstandings and dissatisfactions will continue to accumulate. The crisis offers an opportunity to pass to a new stage of the European integration and we should take advantage of it.


5 / To mark the 60th anniversary of the Schumann declaration, Germany has been particularly celebrated during the third Etats Généraux. Do you think that the Franco-German engine is still relevant?


The study we commissioned to Opinionway (www.etatsgeneraux-europe.eu) revealed that the French and Germans believe that the Franco-German engine will continue to play a key role in the advance of the European integration. I agree with this study, although I do not underestimate the difficulties that the Franco-German couple encounters and that are linked to a European and global political context that has changed over the years as well as a renewal of generations on both sides. Nevertheless, it seems that our leaders are aware of the need for a strong Franco-German unity even if it remains far from sufficient. As has been rightly said by Yves Bur and Andreas Schockenhoff, the group presidents of the National Assembly and the Bundestag, it is important that the Europeans of the other Member States have confidence that this engine is serving the general European interest.