"A peaceful Europe, secure jobs, sound money, safe streets". With these words the Taoiseach, Mr Bruton, summed up the objectives of European integration in a closing address to the Florence Council marking Ireland's assumption of the EU presidency next week. The summit cleared the decks for the Government, most importantly by resolving Britain's non co operation over the beef crisis, and it has set out a clear agenda for the next six months.
This is an excellent formulation of the political tasks that will face Mr Bruton and his colleagues during a demanding period. It is, as intended, citizen friendly, making no concessions to the impenetrable - jargon in which the discussion of European integration is so often expressed. "Variable geometry" or "qualified majority voting" may be necessary terminological tools for diplomats negotiating treaty changes or for academics trying to understand what they are doing, but they are decidedly not the language by which to inspire citizens with a vision of political goals.
Politicians are responsible above all for articulating such a vision and increasingly aware that citizens will not agree to fundamental constitutional change unless they are convinced of its necessity, legitimacy and desirability. It would be no harm if ministers and officials were to engrave Mr Bruton's words in their memory as an appropriate slogan for the Irish presidency so that they can better resist the temptation to relapse into jargon - and journalists might with benefit copy them.
Another quotation in circulation at the Florence Council was taken, appropriately, from Machiavelli, whose city it was: "It is the duty of the prince to solve problems before public emotions make them unsolvable". The British non co operation policy has left a bad taste in the mouths of most of the heads of state and government in attendance and damaged Britain's reputation as a trustworthy negotiating partner. It is to be hoped that the xenophobic emotions stirred over the safety of British beef can be stilled now that the issue has been returned to the scientific scrutiny and Commission initiative where it properly belongs.
But the fact remains that Britain's isolation on the fundamental constitutional questions facing the Union in the Inter Governmental Conference will continue to make it an awkward partner the grit in the European oyster as Mr Major put it in a speech last week. It may fall to Ireland to use its privileged position as a neighbour and interpreter of Britain's affairs over the next six months to ensure that the rapid progress in the IGC called for by the Florence Council can actually be achieved. At the end of the day, however, Jean Monnet's approach of first confronting Britain with facts and then relying on its self proclaimed pragmatism to accept them may well apply.
It is one thing to set out the kind of objectives set out by Mr Bruton, quite another to agree the best means of achieving them. Is a peaceful Europe best achieved by closer defence co operation or alliances? Are jobs best secured by greater competitiveness or more social protection? Is sound money best guaranteed by a common currency. Are streets made safer by pooling sovereignty or retaining it? These are large political questions, whether in the domestic or European settings. The Florence Council has registered progress on them, but it will fall to the Dublin Council next December to offer more definitive answers.