My thoughts on the European Union's future direction

There has been much coverage recently of British Prime Minister David Cameron's rejection of new European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, a Euro-federalist from the centre-right European People's Party who was Prime Minister of Luxembourg for almost 19 years. Notably, only Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban-in some ways worse even than Mr. Cameron-rejected Jean Claude-Juncker as well, with all the other leaders of European Union member states (these leaders are mainly EPP-affiliated as well) supporting Mr. Juncker here.

 I have also learned, worryingly but not unexpectedly, that within the European Parliament, that the EPP, S&D, and ALDE groups have formed a grand coalition within the European Parliament, giving themselves a total of 479 seats out of 751-enough to push through at least the major provisions of TTIP and any other pro-neoliberal legislation.

So,it is true. The terrible neoliberal triad, whose components are respectively led (de facto) by Juncker, Schulz and Verhofstadt has united after all, which ultimately will be woeful for the people of the European Union, ourselves included, in the long-term.

 Do not worry, though. If we the people fight together, throughout Europe, we can achieve real change for the future, especially with many national elections in European countries coming up next year (Sweden's next general election comes up later this year). This not only includes Britain, but also in all likelihood includes Denmark,Finland, Portugal and Spain, whose next legislative elections must take place before the end of 2015. There and then, we can all demonstrate a need for real change, and an end to the current direction of pro-corporate Euro-federalism that Jean-Claude Juncker, much like his predecessor Jose Barosso, clearly wishes to follow. I believe Europe needs to move in a greener direction, and become less of a union and more of a confederation where European states can meet to discuss continent-wide and worldwide issues, but where European states have the autonomy they need and thus are not subject to coercive influence from pro-business lobbies like the ones that have helped shift the EU in the direction it has been following ever since the passing of the Maastricht Treaty.

 Alan.






 

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