What to do after the birthday party

It was a good party, with celebrations all over Europe. From the decorated tram train in Vienna to the giant jig-saw puzzle of Europe set up in Madrid to the two-week Festival of Europe in London, Europe has shown that it knows how to celebrate its birthday.

At the same time, the process of agreeing the Berlin Declaration proved that Europe’s leadership has not only a common legacy from the past but also a common purpose for the future.

It marked the end of the period of reflection and the beginning of a new phase of bringing these reflections together and setting ourselves deadlines for action and decision.

Beyond all the arguments about who signed and did not, the last minute attempts to change this phrase or that word, beyond even the criticisms by some of the process of agreeing it, it has done its job.

Like a recipe, it provides the list of ingredients from which a good cook can prepare a delicious meal.

For all this, we should be grateful for the hard work of the German presidency, working successfully with the Commission, and for the quiet and effective diplomacy of Angela Merkel, who worked miracles, even with the EU’s most sceptical leaders.

Of course, to move from the recipe to the meal, from the declaration to agreement on reforms, will require more of this diplomacy. I fully understand why, at this delicate moment, the presidency has expressed its wish for the space to continue working in the same way.

But the need for space to negotiate and to reflect does not remove the need to engage in open and transparent debate on the future of Europe. Both are necessary for success.

There will be a temptation by some to believe that we can return to business as usual, to the days of elite-driven integration with no participation from Europe’s citizens.

I believe this is a real risk and would be a mistake. The train could run off the tracks before we even notice that we are back on them.

We do not need a new convention: we are still considering the results of the last one. But in its absence, there is all the more need for consultation and debate. It is clear that reform will only be successful if the proposals are in step with the demands of European citizens.

The biggest lesson of the last two years for me has been that if we enter a real dialogue with Europeans, if we use our communi-cation to generate a democratic space in which people can contribute and partici-pate, a European public sphere, then those same people will support well-grounded proposals for the reform of the EU.

We now have the results of several months of citizens’ consultations, in all of our member states. The event in Germany was particularly successful, generating interest and follow-up in the regions. These consultations are part of the Commission’s Plan D to revitalise the democratic debate over the future of Europe, which also included work with national parliaments and organised civil society.

What is encouraging is that, far from rejecting Europe, most citizens are asking for more European action in many areas of policy, from sustainable development to energy policy, from peacekeeping to development work. In summary, perhaps for the first time, the citizens seem to be ahead of their leaders.

This support is cross-generational. For example, I was hugely impressed by the Youth Summit in Rome where, for the first time, more than 200 young people from all 27 member states, debated and managed to negotiate and agree a powerful declaration. They demand a new momentum for European integration, built around the challenges of today: making globalisation sustainable and equitable, protecting the environment, defending social rights and fighting poverty.

This is a demand for an EU equipped for tomorrow, not a defence of the past.

If this momentum can be maintained, then the reflection period will have been a success and the Berlin Declaration will act as the springboard to the future.

We will be able to take the necessary steps towards reforming our institutions because they will be driven by demands from Europe’s people and will not have to be sold to them afterwards as a done deal.

To conclude, let us move ahead with diplomacy, but let us at the same time make sure we consult more broadly, by stepping up our engagement with the European Parliament, national and local authorities, civil society, other stakeholders and with the general public, as we move towards making decisions on a reform project.

The Commission will be active in both the diplomacy and the public engagement, responding to the Youth Summit declaration which demanded: "Listen to what we have to say, ask us what we need and then act!"

• Margot Wallström is vice-president of the European Commission in charge of communication and inter-institutional relations.

It was a good party, with celebrations all over Europe. From the decorated tram train in Vienna to the giant jig-saw puzzle of Europe set up in Madrid to the two-week Festival of Europe in London, Europe has shown that it knows how to celebrate its birthday.

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