The Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP) and the Embassy of Ireland in Athens organized a lecture by Dr FitzGerald, former Prime Minister of Ireland on: The European Union after the economic crisis. Professor Panayiotis Ioakimidis, Member of the Board of Directors of ELIAMEP, moderated the discussion.
The event was held on Thursday, March 18th 2010 at the European Parliament’s Office in Greece.
“… I interrupted my career as a journalist in order to become Prime Minister…”. Thus began the speech by Dr. Garret FitzGerald, former Prime Minister of Ireland. Today, at the age of 84, he still continues to publish. With great clarity as well as simplicity, he presented his opinions for the future of Europe. Before speaking about the future, the former Prime Minister talked about the past and the present.
Dr. Garret FitzGerald pointed out that in the past Europe expressed her power with self-destructive dynamics. However, after the two world wars of the 20th century, she moved very fast in the opposite direction and played a particularly constructive role throughout the world.
After Dr. FitzGerald described the particular characteristics of Europe that distinguish her from all other forces, including the United States, he located her weaknesses, the risks and the challenges for the future. Among the former, he mentioned the weak political leadership and the lack of mechanisms of economic governance. As far as risks are concerned, he highlighted the demographic problem and the economic crisis. Finally, regarding the challenges, he observed the European Union’s institutional weaknesses, such as the undervaluing of the European Commission’s role by large member countries of the European Union. Finally, he underscored the need to have in the 21st century a “soft power”, contrary to the existence of “hard power”, which will ensure order, peace and justice in the world ….