03-01-2017, 11:08 PM
*** 2-Mar-17 World View -- European leaders debate how the European Union can survive after Brexit
This morning's key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com
****
**** European leaders debate how the European Union can survive after Brexit
****
![[Image: g170301b.jpg]](http://Media.GenerationalDynamics.com/ww2010/g170301b.jpg)
Italian politician Gianni Pittella calls the European Commission's white paper a 'clear political mistake' (Getty)
A variety of crises seem to get worse as time goes on is causing
anxieties about the future of the European Union and the euro
currency. The crises include the refugee crisis, financial crises in
Greece and Italy, and increasing euroscepticism in many countries,
following the Brexit referendum that called for Britain to leave the
European Union.
Recognition of these crises comes at a significant time. On March 25,
27 EU countries (Britain, the 28th, is not invited) will be meeting in
Rome to discuss the future of Europe on the 60th anniversary of the
1957 Treaty of Rome that contained the core principles that led to the
creation of the European Union.
When the Treaty of Rome was signed, Europe had been devastated by two
world wars, and everybody was fearful that there could be another
world war at any time. Finally, it was agreed by the war survivors
that Europe had to form a union like the United States to prevent
another war. That was the motivation behind the 1957 Treaty of Rome.
Today, many in Europe's older generations fear that Europe is headed
for new war like WW I and WW II, while younger generations, who have
lived in peace their whole lives, think that anyone who worries about
war must be an alarmist.
European Commission president Jean-Claude Jüncker on Wednesday
published a "White Paper On The Future Of Europe," which describes the
problems facing Europe and suggests five different paths. Jüncker
summarizes the problems as follows:
> [indent]<QUOTE>"Europe’s challenges show no sign of abating. Our
> economy is recovering from the global financial crisis but this is
> still not felt evenly enough. Parts of our neighborhood are
> destabilized, resulting in the largest refugee crisis since the
> Second World War. Terrorist attacks have struck at the heart of
> our cities. New global powers are emerging as old ones face new
> realities. And last year, one of our Member States voted to leave
> the Union."<END QUOTE>[/indent]
Jüncker's approach is to present alternatives for the future of
Europe:
The white paper will be discussed at the Rome meeting on March 25, and
the European Commission will published a series of discussion papers
throughout the year. European Commission - The Future of Europe and RTE (Ireland) and Bloomberg
****
**** European nations split on the future of Europe
****
Many member nations are disenchanted with the EU, and it's feared that
if one more nation follows Britain out of the EU, then others may
follow rapidly.
The foreign ministers of France and Germany supported Jüncker's white
paper options, and particularly supported the "multi-speed Europe"
option, described in the white paper as follows:
> [indent]<QUOTE>"In a scenario where the EU27 proceeds as today but
> where certain Member States want to do more in common, one or
> several “coalitions of the willing” emerge to work together in
> specific policy areas. These may cover policies such as defense,
> internal security, taxation or social matters.
>
> As a result, new groups of Member States agree on specific legal
> and budgetary arrangements to deepen their cooperation in chosen
> domains. As was done for the Schengen area or the euro, this can
> build on the shared EU27 framework and requires a clarification of
> rights and responsibilities. The status of other Member States is
> preserved, and they retain the possibility to join those doing
> more over time."<END QUOTE>[/indent]
However, politicians in other countries disagreed. Far-right Dutch
politician Vicky Maeijer reacted harshly to the white paper:
> [indent]<QUOTE>"The EU is collapsing and support for the project is
> crumbling. It seems we’re trying to keep the Brussels dream alive
> but its really more of the same – more, more, more European Union.
> What world do they come from? You’re playing with the lives of
> millions of citizens who you do not represent.
>
> The Dutch, I think, are going to have their feeling confirmed that
> they must get away from this suffocating Europe and get freedom
> and democracy back."<END QUOTE>[/indent]
Gianni Pittella, and Italian politician who leads the Progressive
Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament, said
that the white paper was a "clear political mistake": "We would
consider it a clear political mistake to simply present five options
concerning the EU’s future without pointing out a clear political
preference. [The future of Europe can’t be sacrificed for] short
sightedness or fear of the next national elections."
But Spanish politician Esteban González Pons said that the EU must be
preserved:
> [indent]<QUOTE>"It is time to defend Europe because it is the best
> vaccine against nationalists and populists. ...
>
> Nobody should forget that the Union is already our present, and
> now we have to decide which way we want to go in the future in
> order to deal with common challenges such as globalization, the
> generational gap, terrorism, climate change, the migration and
> refugee crisis, and the rise of nationalism and
> populism."<END QUOTE>[/indent]
Daily Express (London) and Politico and Xinhua
Related Articles
KEYS: Generational Dynamics, European Union, Greece, Treaty of Rome,
European Commission, Jean-Claude Jüncker, Brexit,
France, Marine Le Pen, National Front Party,
Hungary, Viktor Orbán, Netherlands, Vicky Maeijer,
Italy, Gianni Pittella, Spain, Esteban González Pons
Permanent web link to this article
Receive daily World View columns by e-mail
Contribute to Generational Dynamics via PayPal
John J. Xenakis
100 Memorial Drive Apt 8-13A
Cambridge, MA 02142
Phone: 617-864-0010
E-mail: john@GenerationalDynamics.com
Web site: http://www.GenerationalDynamics.com
Forum: http://www.gdxforum.com/forum
Subscribe to World View: http://generationaldynamics.com/subscribe
This morning's key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com
- European leaders debate how the European Union can survive after Brexit
- European nations split on the future of Europe
****
**** European leaders debate how the European Union can survive after Brexit
****
Italian politician Gianni Pittella calls the European Commission's white paper a 'clear political mistake' (Getty)
A variety of crises seem to get worse as time goes on is causing
anxieties about the future of the European Union and the euro
currency. The crises include the refugee crisis, financial crises in
Greece and Italy, and increasing euroscepticism in many countries,
following the Brexit referendum that called for Britain to leave the
European Union.
Recognition of these crises comes at a significant time. On March 25,
27 EU countries (Britain, the 28th, is not invited) will be meeting in
Rome to discuss the future of Europe on the 60th anniversary of the
1957 Treaty of Rome that contained the core principles that led to the
creation of the European Union.
When the Treaty of Rome was signed, Europe had been devastated by two
world wars, and everybody was fearful that there could be another
world war at any time. Finally, it was agreed by the war survivors
that Europe had to form a union like the United States to prevent
another war. That was the motivation behind the 1957 Treaty of Rome.
Today, many in Europe's older generations fear that Europe is headed
for new war like WW I and WW II, while younger generations, who have
lived in peace their whole lives, think that anyone who worries about
war must be an alarmist.
European Commission president Jean-Claude Jüncker on Wednesday
published a "White Paper On The Future Of Europe," which describes the
problems facing Europe and suggests five different paths. Jüncker
summarizes the problems as follows:
> [indent]<QUOTE>"Europe’s challenges show no sign of abating. Our
> economy is recovering from the global financial crisis but this is
> still not felt evenly enough. Parts of our neighborhood are
> destabilized, resulting in the largest refugee crisis since the
> Second World War. Terrorist attacks have struck at the heart of
> our cities. New global powers are emerging as old ones face new
> realities. And last year, one of our Member States voted to leave
> the Union."<END QUOTE>[/indent]
Jüncker's approach is to present alternatives for the future of
Europe:
- Carrying On. No new treaty.
- Nothing but the Single Market. Loosen Brussels' control,
give up citizens' rights, and just have a commercial trading
agreement.
- Those Who Want More Do More. Also called a "multi-speed"
Europe, this is Jüncker's favored option. A small group of nations
would proceed on a path toward greater integration, and other nations
could join when they wish.
- Doing Less More Efficiently. More than the "single market,"
but less Brussels control than today, implement policies only when
everyone agrees that they add real value.
- Doing Much More Together. This would be the full
integration of all 27 member states into a unified EU, but would
require significant treaty changes.
The white paper will be discussed at the Rome meeting on March 25, and
the European Commission will published a series of discussion papers
throughout the year. European Commission - The Future of Europe and RTE (Ireland) and Bloomberg
****
**** European nations split on the future of Europe
****
Many member nations are disenchanted with the EU, and it's feared that
if one more nation follows Britain out of the EU, then others may
follow rapidly.
- France: The thought that far-right National Front Party
leader Marine Le Pen could win the upcoming election would have been
considered impossible a year ago, but the nationalist populism
displayed by the successful Brexit referendum and the victory of
Donald Trump in America have shown that a Le Pen victory is a real
popularity, and Le Pen favors the "Frexit" option of having France
leave the European Union.
- Poland: Poland is thought to be eurosceptic, but a poll
says that 84.5% would vote to stay if there was a referendum.
- The Netherlands: The Dutch are approximately evenly split
on the "Nexit" option of leaving the EU.
- Austria: The rise of right-wing Freedom Party of Austria
has made the "Auxit" option appear to be a possibility.
- Denmark: Denmark voted against the Maastricht treaty in
1992, but was later drawn into the EU. However, Denmark voted to stay
out of the euro currency.
- Hungary: Hungary's anti-immigrant prime minister Viktor
Orbán has been a fierce opponent of plans to resettle refugees to EU
nations according to a quota system.
- Czech Republic: The Czech people have been called the most
eurosceptic people in Europe. Polls indicate that 57% consider EU
membership to be a risk to their country.
The foreign ministers of France and Germany supported Jüncker's white
paper options, and particularly supported the "multi-speed Europe"
option, described in the white paper as follows:
> [indent]<QUOTE>"In a scenario where the EU27 proceeds as today but
> where certain Member States want to do more in common, one or
> several “coalitions of the willing” emerge to work together in
> specific policy areas. These may cover policies such as defense,
> internal security, taxation or social matters.
>
> As a result, new groups of Member States agree on specific legal
> and budgetary arrangements to deepen their cooperation in chosen
> domains. As was done for the Schengen area or the euro, this can
> build on the shared EU27 framework and requires a clarification of
> rights and responsibilities. The status of other Member States is
> preserved, and they retain the possibility to join those doing
> more over time."<END QUOTE>[/indent]
However, politicians in other countries disagreed. Far-right Dutch
politician Vicky Maeijer reacted harshly to the white paper:
> [indent]<QUOTE>"The EU is collapsing and support for the project is
> crumbling. It seems we’re trying to keep the Brussels dream alive
> but its really more of the same – more, more, more European Union.
> What world do they come from? You’re playing with the lives of
> millions of citizens who you do not represent.
>
> The Dutch, I think, are going to have their feeling confirmed that
> they must get away from this suffocating Europe and get freedom
> and democracy back."<END QUOTE>[/indent]
Gianni Pittella, and Italian politician who leads the Progressive
Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament, said
that the white paper was a "clear political mistake": "We would
consider it a clear political mistake to simply present five options
concerning the EU’s future without pointing out a clear political
preference. [The future of Europe can’t be sacrificed for] short
sightedness or fear of the next national elections."
But Spanish politician Esteban González Pons said that the EU must be
preserved:
> [indent]<QUOTE>"It is time to defend Europe because it is the best
> vaccine against nationalists and populists. ...
>
> Nobody should forget that the Union is already our present, and
> now we have to decide which way we want to go in the future in
> order to deal with common challenges such as globalization, the
> generational gap, terrorism, climate change, the migration and
> refugee crisis, and the rise of nationalism and
> populism."<END QUOTE>[/indent]
Daily Express (London) and Politico and Xinhua
Related Articles
- France rejects EU Constitution (01-Jun-2005)
- Acrimonious European Union summit ends in crisis (18-Jun-2005)
- Tony Blair caves, and the EU reaches a budget agreement (17-Dec-2005)
- Angela Merkel tries to unify a fractured Europe on its 50th birthday (25-Mar-2007)
- Europe in 'chaos' as Ireland rejects Lisbon Treaty (16-Jun-2008)
KEYS: Generational Dynamics, European Union, Greece, Treaty of Rome,
European Commission, Jean-Claude Jüncker, Brexit,
France, Marine Le Pen, National Front Party,
Hungary, Viktor Orbán, Netherlands, Vicky Maeijer,
Italy, Gianni Pittella, Spain, Esteban González Pons
Permanent web link to this article
Receive daily World View columns by e-mail
Contribute to Generational Dynamics via PayPal
John J. Xenakis
100 Memorial Drive Apt 8-13A
Cambridge, MA 02142
Phone: 617-864-0010
E-mail: john@GenerationalDynamics.com
Web site: http://www.GenerationalDynamics.com
Forum: http://www.gdxforum.com/forum
Subscribe to World View: http://generationaldynamics.com/subscribe
