A entrevista dada por Durão Barroso, aliás José Manuel Barroso, ontem ao Financial Times, e que mereceu honras de primeira página, dirige-se a todos aqueles que começam a inquietar-se com as mossas que a globalização está provocar em alguns sectores das suas economias e, muito particularmente, daqueles que são confrontados com a concorrência dos países onde os salários são consideravelmente mais baixos, as reivindicações sindicais imperceptíveis, a segurança social uma regalia de apenas alguns. A Durão Barroso, na sua qualidade de Presidente da Comissão Europeia, compete-lhe relembrar que a liberalização dos mercados não é isenta de custos, que o a liberalização das trocas foi sempre motor de progresso e promotor de vantagens recíprocas, mas é bom não esquecer que a sua posição é, a este respeito, bem cómoda porque não depende do voto dos eleitores.
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Porque é nesse ponto que se estabelece a diferença que lhe dá o conforto do discurso tecnicamente correcto mas politicamente nada correcto para aqueles que pagam a factura ou receiam ter um dia de a pagar, e que não serão chamados a votar em Durão Barroso. Os descontentes da globalização não são, sobretudo, aqueles que aparecem a contestar as reuniões do G8, mas os milhões que na Europa (e nos EUA) perderam os seus postos de trabalho e já não têm idade para se reconverterem profissionalmente ou, sendo jovens, ainda não tiveram oportunidade de começar a trabalhar.
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A liberalização do comércio internacional a nível global, se for reversível, não o será sem grandes perturbações políticas globais. Por tudo o que caracteriza a actual interacção dos povos que habitam o planeta, a globalização veio para ficar, se não muito do que faz funcionar o mundo teria de ser eliminado numa imensa fogueira inquisitorial.
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Mas para além do discurso de defesa dos méritos do comércio livre global, é imprescindível o discurso das alternativas que se oferecem aos que são mais vulneráveis à competição. Porque, sem alternativas, as sementes do nacionalismo e da xenofobia encontrarão terreno propício à revolta.
É perante esta ameaça que se contorcem aqueles que dependem dos votos.
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Não penso que o caminho necessário, neste caso, se faça caminhando. É preciso descortinar soluções que se antecipem ao descontentamento generalizado.
Barroso protectionism alert
By Lionel Barber and Tony Barber in Brussels
In an interview with the Financial Times, Mr Barroso also explicitly ruled out creating a single pan-European regulator in response to the turmoil that has plagued financial markets since August.
Mr Barroso was speaking two weeks before a summit of European Union leaders that is expected to address the instability of financial markets, to propose a code of conduct for sovereign wealth funds and to advance the EU's energy and climate change policies.
Asked if protectionist sentiment was growing in the EU, Mr Barroso, a committed advocate of free trade, said: "Yes, and I fear this rise not only in Europe but all over. Political forces in Europe that were traditionally pro-market are today - let's put it elegantly - more prudent. Some on the centre-right are now more conservative in that regard."
He said the EU was the world's most open economy in its foreign investment and trade policies, but Europeans were unsettled by China's rise as an economic power and by its huge trade surplus with the EU.
"I know very well that some people think of China's growth as a threat. We want to make it an opportunity," he said. "I have told the Chinese: 'You have to help us, you have to make the case that it's good for the global economy'. "
He said he saw some progress in China's position on the defence of intellectual property rights - a key concern for European companies. "The Commission doesn't want to, but it might be hard to resist the protectionist calls," he warned.
On the EU's response to the financial markets turbulence, Mr Barroso gave strong support to Germany, the UK and other countries that oppose French and Italian calls for a pan-European regulator. "We certainly have no intention at all of having some kind of European superregulator. But we want increased transparency and more cooperation among regulators.
"We think innovation in financial markets is good. It's been good for financial institutions, business and consumers. But financial innovation and the incredibly sophisticated products on offer created regulatory gaps. Those gaps have to be addressed, and addressed pragmatically. A hasty response would do more harm than good."
He reinforced previous Brussels warnings of possible regulatory action to tighten procedures at credit ratings agencies, saying: "We think that there were failures at the ratings agencies. They should improve their standards so that the market can regain confidence in their work."
Mr Barroso said the US economic slowdown was taking a certain toll on Europe. "Of course, we cannot be completely immune to the situation in America, but we think there is no rational reason to fear a recession in Europe," he said.
"It's true that from time to time EU member-states are tempted by reform fatigue but, at different speeds and in different forms, economic reform is still the name of the game."
He praised the new member states from central and eastern Europe, saying: "They have brought additional pressure for more competition in the older EU states. We are showing that enlargement can be a win-win process for the EU."
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