Page 8 - ARUBA TODAY 25

A8 WORLD NEWS
Saturday 25 March 2017
EU leaders converge on Rome to rekindle sense of unity

RAF CASERT with others.’”
Associated Press The bloc has proven in the
ROME (AP) — Posing with past to be less than unified
Pope Francis before Mi- in decision-making on is-
chelangelo’s masterpiece sues such as the single euro
“The Last Judgment” at the currency or the Schengen
Vatican, European Union zone of unfettered travel,
leaders started their week- but it always left a taste
end pilgrimage in Rome of being less than ideal.
hoping that a visit to the Some call the future a two-
cradle of their unity proj- speed Europe, or a Europe
ect could somehow rekin- of concentric circles, but
dle the vigor of the bloc’s still it would allow nations to
youth. move ahead or closer who
More and more, it looks like want to, no longer being
the EU’s future will have less held back by others.
unanimity and more areas Bettel said the two-speed
where groups of EU na- idea, first pushed by Lux-
tions advance on their own embourg, Belgium and the
when faced with resistance Netherlands, is catching
from others on specific is- on.
sues, Prime Minister Xavier “We were alone at the be-
Bettel of founding EU na- ginning with the Benelux.
tion Luxembourg told The Pope Francis poses with the heads of State and of the EU institutions for a family photo in the Sistine Then we had country after
Associated Press. Chapel at the end of an audience at the Vatican, Friday, March 24, 2017. The pontiff is receiving country, because we saw
Saturday marks the 60th leaders of EU countries the day before an European Union summit in Rome to highlight the 60th that certain ones tried to
anniversary of the bloc’s foundation on March 25, 2017.
anniversary of the signa- (L’Osservatore Romano/Pool Via AP) take us hostage,” he said,
ture of their solemn bond referring to the Polish gov-
in Rome, which started the EU’s history looms next leave the bloc. emonies. ernment, which sought to
with six founding nations week, when Britain official- British Prime Minister The- Francis said the EU was sabotage the last summit
but steadily grew to 28. ly triggers negotiations to resa May is staying away called “to care for the ail- two weeks ago by refusing
But the biggest setback in become the first nation to from this weekend’s cer- ments that inevitably come
with age, and to find new to approve conclusions be-
ways to steer its course. Yet cause the 27 other EU na-
unlike human beings, the tions appointed Donald
European Union does not Tusk, a local political rival,
face an inevitable old age, for another term as EU pres-
but the possibility of a new ident.
youthfulness.” Bettel said it would be un-
At the Sistine Cha- workable in the future.
pel, EU leaders posed with “Can you imagine, 27 or 28
Francis in front of the Mi- around a table and each,
chelangelo fresco, which for an appointment, or be-
depicts the end of the cause he disagrees with
world. Six decades ago, a sentence, refuses and
few would have imagined blocks Europe and 500 mil-
the end of the EU could lion citizens? If they are un-
even be discussed. happy, they should tell us,”
Long the mantra of the EU, Bettel said.
the “ever closer union” Poland, which seems
pointed toward a seamless poised to take over Britain’s
continent and an econom- mantle of the most recal-
ic and political juggernaut. citrant member, wanted
Now others, beyond Britain more assurances that all
with its divorce plans, are its requirements were met
looking for more of a “living and only agreed to the text
apart together” relation- on Friday, the eve of the
ship. summit.
The EU’s Rome summit, The highlight of Saturday’s
while vowing unity, could ceremonies will be the
instead be a watershed adoption of a Rome Dec-
moment in moving away laration, a blueprint for the
from it and toward a more way ahead.
practical road of partial al- Poland and Greece long
liances on certain issues. had objections to what
“I’d rather have a two- many would consider a
speed Europe than a dead- harmless statement to ral-
end and no speed,” Bettel ly all member states but
said. “When a country says swung around on Friday. It
‘I don’t want to,’ I can say is that concern about pa-
‘Well, too bad. Don’t block ralysis that pushed the EU to
me. Let me get on with it look for other options.q