Mandelson makes plea on new leadership role in Europe
Peter Mandelson called today for new leadership in Europe to give the EU a key role in the world.
He said personalities as well as policies would make the difference between a “meaningful” union on the international stage or one with just a “walk-on role”.
As EU leaders prepare to pick a new, all-powerful president under the Lisbon Treaty, Mr Mandelson studiously avoided naming any particular favourite “personality” he had in mind.
And his speech to the Bruegel think-tank in Brussels emphasises that establishing the EU’s global brand does not come down to one individual.
But, asked before today’s speech whether Tony Blair was the figure to offer Europe leadership, the trade secretary said the former prime minister’s track record spoke for itself:
“He reformed the Labour Party and built up the case for New Labour. I saw him do the same in Northern Ireland,” said Mr Mandelson, adding: “That is not an advertisement for his candidacy – he can and will argue for himself if he wants this role”.
Mr Blair’s chances have dwindled as many EU leaders press for a more low-key political figure in the job – such as the current Belgian or Luxembourg prime ministers.
If Mr Blair is out of the running, that clears the way for Britain's Foreign Secretary David Miliband to fill the other new EU role – High Representative for Foreign Affairs.
Mr Miliband is a favourite in other EU capitals and is under pressure to offer himself for the post, but he says he is “not available” and is proud to serve in Gordon Brown’s cabinet.
Mr Mandelson commented: I believe David Miliband will be playing a full, effective and meaningful role in Europe ... as British foreign secretary. I have seen absolutely no sign in anything he has said or done to indicate that he wants another job. Indeed, I detect quite the opposite.“
Meanwhile, in today’s speech, called A Different Europe for a Different Economic Era, Mr Mandelson says the EU is facing a what-kind-of-Europe-do-we-want? moment.
Speaking less than 48 hours after David Cameron clearly set out what kind of Europe the Tories want, Mr Mandelson said a totally re-ordered global economy was on the way, requiring serious new thinking in Europe.
“We will either step into a meaningful economic and political role in a multi-polar world, or we will have merely a walk on role, forced to follow others’ lead.
“In other words, will we drive the agenda, or become a subsidiary of a process driven and shaped elsewhere, but above all by the G2, meaning the US and China?
With new emerging powers and economic forces in the world, Europe was the “essential force multiplier” for all of its member states.
But one of the EU’s key deficits was leadership: “It is personalities and policies that will make the difference.
“We have a problem of leadership in Europe and (a problem of) political willingness to drive change. This does not boil down to a single individual and his ideas, however relevant. It is about an entire attitude of mind.”
The EU was an “incredible historical innovation”, but as a group of institutions, it did not drive innovation in the way required:
“The EU is a tapdancer with 27 feet. Our challenge is getting that strange animal to dance,” he said.
He praised core EU policies such as the single market, and its competition and trade policies but urged better spending of the “misaligned” EU budget - representing about 1% of EU-wide GDP.
He called for more EU support for high-tech industries, arguing that current EU rules hamper innovation.
He also praised Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso – Mr Mandelson’s boss when he was EU trade commissioner – but urged him to be more “radical” as he starts another five year term of office.
Ahead of his speech, Mr Mandelson said the ideas he was setting out represented a positive and constructive initiative benefiting Britain and the EU, unlike the negative “wrecking” plans being put forward by the Tories.
“Europe can either take the high road and grow, or take the low road and follow others,” he said.
“If you accept that we are at that fork in the road, most people would accept that we need the personalities and policies to take the high road.”
