Following the 3 February 2017 Malta summit, the German PM and others offered endorsements of a so-called “multispeed Europe” along with more individual country sovereignty (eg, Reuters). It seems that the core of the EU has finally learned its lessons following Brexit and Trump.
A multispeed Europe is in line with William Hague‘s proposal for anassociate EU membership and the ideas of Guy Verhofstadt in his book on rediscovering the European ideals (Dutch, English). It will even benefit Ulrike Guérot‘s plea for a European Republic.
A Federal Republic of Europe cannot be achieved in its current shape and form as every member has an equal say. For several decades, we have seen the UK blackmail on the EU (eg, UK rebate). Since Brexit, the UK has lost its manipulative power. EU house cleaning can finally commence.
The nationalist movements across Europe all have a fair point when it comes to multiculturalism, migrants & refugees. For a long time, the default EU answer was More Brussels is Better. This misguided EU view has caused backlashes all across Europe, resulting in many European nationalist movements, and culminating in Brexit.
The idea of more centralization (read: More Brussels is Better) is an inherent contradiction because it roots in socialism and communism, and clearly not in (most) Western social market economies. The new way forward is the right way: Less is More.
This new development even aligns with one of the most controversial persons of today: “I think strong countries and strong nationalist movements in countries make strong neighbors, and that is really the building blocks that built Western Europe and the United States, and I think it’s what can see us forward.” (source)
Like any living organism, the EU should also focus on external protection (eg, borders, defense) and internal cooperation (eg, single market with free movement of goods, capital, services, and people). Similar to living organisms, it also needs internal security mechanisms against cancer cells and viruses. Only by mimicking the organizational principles of living organisms, maximum added value can be achieved.
While individual European countries (ie, Portugal, Spain, Netherlands, UK, France, Germany) have been Superpowers in previous centuries, the current European Union is largely viewed as weak. A simple comparison of key Superpower dimensions contradicts this.
Russia knows this very well. Russia has never forgotten the brutal French and German attacks. Hence, its efforts to destabilize Europe.
Trump’s behaviour – whether childishly ignorant or masterfully manipulative – has finally opened our eyes and closed our hearts towards our main ally. A Superpower vacuum is even more dangerous than two Superpowers. It’s time for Europe and USA to go their own way.
Go Your Own Way (1977) by Fleetwood Mac – artists, lyrics, video, Wiki-1, Wiki-2
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