BERLIN (Own report) – In view of the conflict between Brussels and Rome over Italy’s national budget, the German establishment is increasing its demands to resolutely fight the “internal enemies” of the EU. The Union must “now be vigorously defended,” wrote a leading German daily. The Italian government coalition is “not worth risking the country’s fate.” The Italian government is being put into question, because it refuses to continue to submit to German austerity dictates. Berlin’s dominance over the EU is also being met with mounting protests in other member countries. Poland and Hungary are not the only countries, where controversies are intensifying. Anger at Berlin is also growing in France. Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the founder of “La France insoumise,” who, with almost 20 percent, barely missed making the run-offs in the 2017 presidential elections, has now called for “France to withdraw from all EU treaties.” The German elite’s reaction is becoming more hostile.
Racism Yes, Increase Consumption, No
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Europe of War
The conflict with Italy and the dispute over the Brexit deal [4] are accompanied by mounting tensions with a growing number of other countries. In France, protest against Berlin’s dominating the EU has recently become more vocal. In his speech at the National Assembly on Monday, the founder of “La France insoumise,” Jean-Luc Mélenchon, addressed not only the Berlin-imposed austerity policy that has destroyed the French social model.[5] He also criticized the militarization of the EU, being pushed by Berlin.[6] To construct a “Europe for peace” was the original intention; it now is becoming evident that a “Europe of war is being constructed,” under Germany’s instigation. In a newspaper article in late September of last year, Mélenchon had already protested against German plans to become a de facto nuclear power, by sharing French nuclear weapons. He also again pointed to the predominance of German personnel in decisive positions in the EU bodies and bureaucracy.[7] German predominance in the EU is ultimately based on the country’s economic power, permitting the authoritarian behavior of the government in Berlin.[8] Mélenchon who, with 19.6 percent, barely missed the run-offs during the 2017 presidential elections, is now calling for “France to withdraw from all EU treaties” immediately, because no improvement is in sight.[9]
Vassals
The growing differences with the Visegrád countries (Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia) are, simultaneously, becoming more apparent. During a panel discussion on the premises of the German Foreign Ministry on Tuesday, a rhetorical exchange of blows developed between German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his Polish counterpart Andrzej Duda. The subject was not only the reform of Poland’s judiciary, with which Warsaw seeks to subjugate the courts, particularly their upper echelons, to its political control.[10] Hinting at other bones of contention, Duda spoke out against a “concert of major powers” within the Union, wherein the countries with large populations openly dominate, and he declared: “We do not want to be vassals.”[11] In response to the German presidents objection that all of the member nations had joined the Union voluntarily, Duda pointed out that Great Britain has become the first country to leave the EU.[12] In fact, Brussels has spared no effort in turning the British exit into an example to deter other member countries from considering withdrawing from the Union. (german-foreign-policy.com reported.[13]) Smaller countries are only theoretically free to leave the Union, as can be seen by the EU’s actually deterrent Brexit negotiating tactics.
Eat or be Eaten
In its attempts to consolidate the EU, from which the German elite continues to greatly benefit both economically and politically, the German establishment is now clearly designating – and openly declaring – who is the enemy. The “enemies” of the Union “are on the inside and want to destroy it,” according to a formerly liberal German daily, a few days ago in reference to the conflict over Italy’s national budget.[14] Currently, “at least three attacks are being simultaneously” waged against the EU: One from Great Britain, which is leaving, a second from Poland and Hungary, and a third from Italy. Rome could “provoke a financial and monetary crisis,” that forces the euro countries to decide whether to submit to Italy’s blackmail or take the risk “that one of the founding members leaves.” The EU majority must “ward off these attacks, if it does not want to be eaten,” the journal warns. One could let the conflict with Poland and Hungary remain “in limbo” for a while, until there is “a political change of climate” in these countries. However, this cannot be done with the “Italian case,” because of the dynamics of the crisis. It would “become a test case” for dealing with the “enemies” of the EU. The author of the article, who is very well connected within the German foreign policy establishment, puts Italy’s government into question. “This coalition is not worth risking the country’s fate.” It is high time to take action: “If you value this Union, you must defend it now with all your might. Europe’s ice age has just begun.”
Europe’s Central Power
Recently, the British historian Perry Anderson commented on Germany’s efforts to hold the EU – which it dominates and draws enormous benefits – together. In his most recent book, entitled “Hegemonie,” Anderson quotes the Berlin government advisor, Herfried Münkler, who, back in 2015, had already declared that it was up to “the European central power” – Germany – to “tame the rising centrifugal forces of the Union.” “If Germany fails in its role as the European central power, then Europe will fail.”[15] Anderson has been very critical of the EU for a long time. In the summer of 2015, in reference to the annulment of the Greek majority “No” vote in the referendum on the austerity policy imposed on Athens, the Union, had become “an oligarchic structure” built on “a denial of any sort of popular sovereignty” which is “enforcing a bitter economic regime of privilege for the few and duress for the many.”[16] In light of Münklers admonition that Berlin must “responsibly assume the tasks of Europe’s central power,” Anderson noted that, in Germany, there is always talk of “responsibility” for “Europe,” without even the slightest mention of the profits, Germany has been raking in with its excessive export surpluses [17] at the expense of the other member countries. “Anderson,” it was noted in relation to his book “Hegemonie,” “hardly holds back his mockery, when quoting the self-descriptions of the [German, editor’s note] pay- and ringmaster of Europe: ‘in the service of its self-aggrandizement, the power always uses its appropriate – self-pitying or self-praising – pathos.'”[18]
Full article: The EU’s ‘Internal Enemies’ (German Foreign Policy)
Global Geopolitics 