A Europe Day Message

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