In De Standaard, Bart De Wever (photo), leader of Flemish nationalist party N-VA - Belgium's biggest party – has defended his decision to give an introduction to a speech made by Czech President Václav Klaus during a Belgian state visit. Klaus, as you know, isn't exactly the most popular head of state in Brussels circles.But De Wever writes:
"Whoever expresses criticism of the europhile mentaility of the political elite is being labelled an ideological ally of the far right.De Wever concludes:
In an infamous speech at the European Parliament in 2009, Klaus committed the cardinal sin by sharply criticising the lack of democracy at the EU level, even comparing the EU to the Soviet Union. When someone who has physically experienced the struggle for political freedom and sovereignty of the people, speaks about Europe in such a way, we should at least be expected to take his criticism seriously. Instead of taking advantage of an opportunity to engage in a big debate on the European project, Klaus was being dismissed as a political pariah."
"whoever honestly believes in European integration, will need to learn to listen to its critics. Lashing out at anyone who doesn't believe in the europhile dream of a United States of Europe, advocated by smooth statesmen and journalists, really doesn't cut it any longer if we wish to convince public opinion. In order to counter the opinion of Klaus and to avoid the European project from turning into something resembling not much more than a free trade area, we need euro-realist answers. And we need grands messieurs et mesdames willing to sell those ideas."Not the usual stuff coming out of Belgium, to say at least.
And we can see how well his realism has been working for Belgium.
ReplyDeleteCan someone please tell us what would be wrong with the EU 'BEING JUST A FREE TRADE AREA'? That is what it started out being and we didn't have all these problems then. I'm fed up with the EU telling other people and countries what to do. We have not even sorted out ourselves yet and are spending billions of the EEAS - to what purpose may I ask?
ReplyDeleteI think it may be too late for a rapprochement between the europrat elite and the electorates of EU member states. Support seems to be growing for parties which reject the idea of throwing away taxpayers' money simply to prop up the euro and save the face of the "elite".
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