European Identity - Individual, Group and Society - HumanitarianNet

60 EUROPEAN IDENTITY. INDIVIDUAL, GROUP AND SOCIETYthan social or environmental government, the institutional frameworkof which is either weak (the International Labour Organization [ILO]) orsimply non-existent. Furthermore, worldwide institutions function likeexclusive clubs, in which a minute clutch of rich countries takedecisions on behalf of the rest. After all, the institutions are specializedaccording to different sectors, and for the moment it looks as thoughwe are not going to formulate an overall vision which, for instance,might simultaneously cover the relationship between trade, economicgrowth, work and the environment.We are still far from reaching a global commitment of solidaritywhich covers both free trade concerns on the one hand and jointdevelopment on the other. Neither will it be easy to reach such anagreement, but in any case we must look further afield: the InternationalMonetary Fund, the World Bank, the World Trade Organization andInternational Labour Organization should all surrender the protagonismthey currently enjoy, and sit down together as part of a round tablemeeting to negotiate a global social and ecological contract. Unless sucha contract materializes, it is impossible to see how we can maintain ourhigh standards of social rights and environmental protection in Europe.It is not just desirable to live in a different world —without theserfdom imposed on some and the carte blanche given to others, amore equal place where people are genuinely free—, it is also possible.Europe can contribute to the emergence of such a world in which mancan live with dignity, one which counts with the rules necessary toguarantee peace. This alternative, whereby Europe helps to determineinternational relations, is a response to the interests of Europeans andof Humanity in general, which today finds itself wanting in terms oflegislation to cover financial, economic and political processes, andthus guarantee freedom. It is precisely as a counterbalance to capitalistintentions and the hegemony of the current United States government—the same administration responsible for sinking a law-abiding worldorder which favours mankind— that people are now starting to invokeEurope. The German foreign minister, Joschka Fischer, is in favour of amore egalitarian form of globalization; well, if this is to be achievedthen a super-power Europe is indispensable.The Union’s biggest challenge is therefore to assert itself on theworld stage as a political and strategic partner on an even footing withAmerica. The Western alliance cannot simply mean abiding silently byAmerica’s plans, which tend to push us away from decision-makingroles in world politics. It is common practice in Washington to takecontrol of world affairs when serious issues are at stake, such as theMiddle East, Afghanistan and Iraq, where oil is involved; in such cases,