A Europe Day Message

Instead of giving an overview of the different aspects of the European Union's relations with Indonesia, I would like to concentrate more on the issue of to what extent the European Union's integration can be of inspiration to Indonesia's democratic process.

The anniversary of Europe Day on May 9 is an opportunity to reflect on what will, I believe, come to be seen as one of the most important social, economic and political innovations of the 20th century.

Fifty years ago, under the devastating impression of World War II, a group of European nations accepted the notion that their interests would be better served in the long run by collaboration and regional solidarity rather than by emphasizing individual national sovereignty. The European Economic Community as it was originally, and the European Union as it subsequently became, is an expression of the European nations' acceptance that the future prosperity of Europe as a region, and its future role in the international political arena, depend upon the extent to which mutual interdependence between countries is created and enriched rather than on competition between countries to preserve national sovereign independence.

Naturally, progress toward economic and political integration has not proceeded without intensive discussion of the boundaries between legitimate national aspirations and areas of wider regional concern. The great achievement of the European Union, however, has been to create political mechanisms whereby areas of difference or dispute can be explored, thrashed out and, eventually, resolved through dialog and in the context of democratically elected institutions. In this sense, Europe has become an example of operational democracy for the entire international community.

A second significant aspect of the European Union is that it embodies a concept of institutional development that is not a static entity laid down in a fixed constitution, but a constantly evolving matrix. It has been a characteristic of multinational organizations that they become rapidly fossilized on the basis of an original charter or constitution and that they then fail to respond to the changing needs of the organization as its mandates and its tasks evolve. The institutional aspects of the European Union, however, have been framed in such a way that its supranational institutional structure and its political mandate are constantly updated and reviewed as the economic and political situation of Europe changes and as more and more countries seek to join what is perceived, globally, as being a dynamic, thriving organization able to guarantee peace and prosperity of its members.

Reflecting on this question of "unity in diversity" highlights some parallels that exist between the development of the European Union and the present movement in Indonesia toward a more representative and democratic administration. One of the most pressing questions is the future division of power between Indonesia's central government and the provinces. Unrest in some regions is a challenge to Indonesia's stability. Europe, with full support of Indonesia's territorial integrity, may be a frame of reference. This is not to say that Europe necessarily offers the only model for successful democratic development. Rather, the European response to the challenge of integrating so much diversity and crating out of it so much unity demonstrates clearly that, despite the huge problems involved, the derivation of unity out of diversity remains a practical and viable agenda. Certainly, the European integration process, among others, inspired Southeast Asian leaders some 30 years ago to set up the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which includes among its aims the promoting of economic, social and cultural development of the region through cooperation.

Europe Day is an occasion for us to reflect on the success with which Europe has addressed the challenges of the past and also reflect with optimism on how the challenges of the future will be tackled. Europe Day also allows us to ask the question of how we can best share the experience of European integration and solidarity with other countries or regions seeking to gain prosperity and harmony through the stronger ties of regional integration. The recent "Communication" of the European Commission on the development of closer relations between the EU and Indonesia is a first effort to spell out the ways in which Europe and Indonesia can explore together their common interests and how Europe can support the many positive developments since the democratically run elections of 1999. It is my fervent belief that Europe provides an important source of expertise in democratic institution-building which can provide both inspiration and benefits in making a contribution to securing the future of Indonesia as a great and unified nation.

Ambassador Klauspeter Schmallenbach

Head of Representation

of the European Commission