Cross the bridge and join the European Public Opinion

When addressing topics such as energy, environment, foreign policy or fundamental rights, EU member state borders do not make sense any longer. Thus, transnational opinion groups of citizen shall take over from national leaders for the definition of European policies

Over the limits of the intergovernmental approach

The European Union, as we know it at the time being, is the product of 50 years of intergovernemental approach. Every contribution whatever the domain has been brought into the basket of the Union after it has been first validated at national level against the local political framework applicable at that time.
Up to now, the result was not so bad.
However, the fact is that this approach has reached its limits. The institutions created by the governements have received all the power that local chiefs could reasonably transfer them within the scope of their mandate and personal interest.
The next step is the transfer to the Union of a core of political power to directly rule the European affairs at Union level. Many topics would benefit from this transfer. The main ones being: Energy, Environment, Technological Risks, post-industrial Society and Foreign Affairs (especially Middle-East and relationship with Russia). These topics are worldwide issues and individual national solutions have little chance to succeed.
The limit of the intergovernemental approach is mainly due to the desynchronisation of national political calenders. Why should newly elected President Sarkozy of France invert the priorities between France and Europe for the building of an Environmental action plan ? He received a clear mandate from French electors, so he will first build a French plan and then propose it to the Union as a basis for negociation. On that particular example, a European debate first would be more efficient as, at the end of the day, only an harmonised European action plan can bring benefits.
This is the reason why European Citizens shall now take over from their local governements and join to directly discuss political issues for Europe. We need transnational debates to be set up and transnational political forces to emerge. These forces will then be the basis for the building of a Political Union for Europe that can short cut local governements attempts to solve the institutional crisis.
The next chance to legitimate citizens to take over from the intergovernemental approach is the elections for the European Parliament in June 2009.