Let's dare to have less Europe!

As leading UK politicians and commentators urge eurozone countries, above all Germany to take the plunge into a fully fledges fiscal and economic union (while firmly rejecting the UK’s participation), it seems they have failed to contend with quite how deep resistance to such a move might be. Indeed we are beginning to witness a bizarre spectacle in which the UK is arguing for more EU intervention while many on the continent are arguing for less, a complete turn-around from recent history.

For example, at the time of going to pixel, the homepage of Die Welt leads with a comment piece by Clemens Wergin entitled “Lets dare to have less Europe”. In the piece, he makes the sorts of arguments often made by the more nuanced EU-critical UK-based commentators, such as:

“The principle of collective responsibility should remain an exception. Therefore, we must return to a Europe in which the welfare of one nation does not depend on how others organise themselves.” 

“[The moves towards a fiscal and banking union] mean even larger intervention rights for the European institutions in national budgets. At the same time it would also mean that the inability of Italian and Greek officials to persuade their wealthy citizens to pay their taxes would be compensated by fees from the dutiful North. It would be the perfect recipe for Europe-wide organized irresponsibility.” 

“This type of deepening is not wanted by the citizens, it will not work and it drives a wedge of division into the continent. It is also further evidence of the implacability with which the political elites of the continent run in the same direction. When it comes to European issues, there is a form of ‘group-think’ that is far too rarely questioned. According to this creed, only he or she who calls for more integration can be considered to be a good European. Meanwhile, it has long been the opposite.” 

Surely these are the sort of sentiments that constructive UK EU-reformers ought to be embracing?

Speaking for Europe

If you're still making up your mind on Lisbon, see here for the dozens of pleas from pro-democracy people all over the EU, urging a 'no' vote:
http://www.europesaysno.org/index.html

Here's a handful of some of the latest comments:

Leo Beata, Sweden:

"To the Irish people, please vote "NO" .. for Europe, for a little bit of democracy, for sovereinity, for some power to the small countries...In Sweden we were promised exceptions when we were to vote for the EU-membership 14 years ago. Today they are all gone, and EU roles our lives and we just have to obey... For a peaceful future, please vote "NO" on friday."

Ninetta Donizetti, Italy:

"Europe has been bullying Ireland for too long! It's time Ireland and its people were treated with respect."

Tim Spencer, UK:

"Everyone in Europe should have the right to vote on this treaty. We are being treated with contempt. Where is the democracy in the EU?"

Gudrun Sievers, Germany:

"All european People looked for Ireland because in Germany we can not speak for yes or no to die Lisbon Treaty. The Idea of EU is fantastic, but not enough democracy - but we can not vote! Many Peoples (80%) are not for die Treaty! in Germany! Good Luck for the Vote. Please say no!"

Lave Broch, Denmark:

"Lisbon Treaty is the wrong way for Europe. The treaty does not make changes to EU's custom union towards the rest of the world and it strengthens the militarization of EU. It is also very undemocratic that only the Irish people got a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty and it is even more undemocratic that the Irish no in the first referendum was not respected."

G. Kissamitakis, Greece:

"IRELAND PLEASE VOTE NO!!! Greece, the place where Democracy was born, denied our right to vote!!! I ASK YOU TO VOTE NO to the LISBON TREATY ON BEHALF OF ALL GREEKS AND EUROPEAN CITIZENS!!!"

Martha Browne, Ireland:

"An appeal to my fellow citizens, cast your vote correctly in the NO box. If not, it could be the last chance to vote for anything meaningful ever again."