EU Heals Wounds

Formally, the purpose of the summit in Athens was the European Union’s expansion eastward. Actually, it was to heal wounds inflicted by the Iraqi crisis. After signing an agreement on ten new EU members Wednesday, the European leaders set to working out the text of a joint statement on the rebuilding of Iraq. Finally it was resolved that the United Nations should play a central role in the reconstruction of that Arab country.

The European leaders tried to restore the EU’s good name as a solid and balanced bloc. French President Jacques Chirac once again reproached former socialist countries that will join the union next year for supporting US military policy in Iraq. His admonition also applied equally to Washington’s other allies: the UK, Italy, Spain, and Denmark. EU countries further tried to settle old differences, including relations with the United States. Seven EU states could dispatch peacekeeping units to Iraq if so requested by Washington. Chirac said planes will soon fly from Iraq with wounded children to be treated at European hospitals.

The summit in Athens looked like the first step toward compromise, although it would be premature to discuss full reconciliation, let alone restored Transatlantic unity. Yet the key objective was achieved: 15 current and 10 future EU members signed an expansion agreement. The new members will be formally admitted in May 2004. The Ukrainian delegation tried to ascertain this country’s place in a united Europe. President Kuchma stressed April 17 that Kyiv did not intend to force the EU membership issue but wanted confirmation of it in the future; that it welcomed the process bringing Ukraine closer to full EU membership, and that it rejected any substitutes: “What is important for Ukraine is not the timeframe but the meaning. We attach more importance now to our WTO membership and to the adjustment of Ukrainian legislation to EU standards.” The EU countries, both current and future, apparently have nothing against cooperation with Kyiv. Jacques Chirac, for one, announced that Paris would support Ukraine’s association with the EU. Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski declared that he would be glad to discuss Ukraine’s EU membership seriously at some point.