Category: European Politics

Another article on the EU today in the IHT. This time its the turn of Giles Merritt, secretary-general of Friends of Europe. He makes a worthwhile point out at the start about the declining population of Europe, this is going to lead to Europe’s demise in my view and the efforts he speaks of are futile. Athens experienced the same population stagnation in ancient times and was worse off for it.

Merritt is a good example of a European mindset I dislike, one of xenophobia, imperialism and conservatism. With people like him arguing for a strengthened Commission, an executive that is not even elected, I will remain a euro-sceptic.

Ken Roth writes a worthwhile piece in today’s Herald Tribune. He talks about human rights in the EU and how the EU no longer defends them as much as it used to. Interesting points, but I have my reservations

My arch nemesis since the day he was appointed as High Representative of the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP). Javier Solana is someone have come to dislike within the EU, he is an example of a person who seeks a greater EU, and was never elected to make decisions for me, or any European citizen. For the last few years I have observed his close relationship with NATO head George Robertson, and read many of his speeches on a closer relationship between the EU and NATO.

In this article in the IHT he is quite clear on how he wants the EU to progress. I am glad that he is so crystal clear, so many politicians muddy the waters on the subject, so people do not really know what is going on in the EU. This was seen in the recent Nice debate here in Ireland.

You see Nice, we were told, had nothing to do with European defence, and Irish neutrality would not be threatened. This is on the face of it true, but Nice is just another treaty in a long line of treaties that will increase power in Brussels, so it is part of a process. And as Solana points out “The future of Europe is intrinsically linked to that of its defense”. Now we were told 2 months ago that the Rapid Reaction Force was purely for ‘peace making’ and peace keeping, but surely we would need more if we have to defend Europe.

The solution?

“If Turkey wishes to take its place in Europe, then it must also play its part in the European defense project. If Turkey understands and accepts this, it will wish to contribute toward the definition of permanent military arrangements between NATO and the EU.”

Permanent military arrangements? I never voted for that!

The Herald Tribune has an interesting piece by its regular contributor William Pfaff. The Convention on Europe is deciding whether there should be a reference to Christianity in the European Constitution. I do not believe there should be a European Constitution, God in it or not. I believe that the designs particular Europeans have for the EU are far too imperialistic and much akin to creating a United States. This is not good for anyone.