Monday, May 6, 2024
During the Maastricht debate between the Spitzenkandidaten of the European political parties, a very interesting point was made by Maylis Roßberg of the European Free Alliance. She stated that “The European Union has become hostage to its member states. But for me there’s a simple solution for that: Strengthen the European Parliament.”. Let me emphasize that I have always felt that the EFA is a very decent European party that stands for a cause that I understand very well, namely that of national minorities in the EU. As I belong myself to such a minority (I am Frisian), one will forgive me that I feel some sympathy for their agenda. Moreover, I very much respect that Maylis Roßberg (24) has the courage to stand as a Spitzenkandidat. Nevertheless I must respectfully disagree with her statement as it seems to be exemplary of an often repeated fundamental misunderstanding of what the EU is and what it means to be ‘pro-EU’. Mrs. Roßberg her statement is not unique or exceptional. It represents a manner of thinking about the EU that pits the Member States against the EU as idea. It assumes that ‘national interests’ undermine the EU. Subsequently and consequently the Member States are pitched against the European Parliament and the European Commission. The problem is that the EU cannot exist without its Member States. The EU can only consist from its Member States. Even if we would break down every Member State into a more confederal concept (which the EFA generally advocates), the EU would still exist based on the actual building blocks in the concrete and physical reality of the national and regional level. There never will be a situation in which people live just ‘in the EU’. This manner of thinking over the EU that pits the EU bodies in Brussels against the Member States has also be proven to be unhelpful for the EU. It has created an idea that assumes that one can only be ‘pro-EU’ if you want that much power is concentrated in Brussels and that Member States have much less power. In our vision, this does not make much sense. It is namely perfectly possible to be very much pro-EU without wanting to concentrate ever more power in Brussels. Rather the reverse, a strong EU cannot exist without strong Member States. One can think of the deteriorating situation in Hungary (in terms of democracy etc.) as one example of how the EU is weakened when there is no longer a vibrant national democracy and robust rule of law in Member States. Moreover, there is not much logic in the idea that there can be only one way that someone can be ‘pro-EU’. I am pro-EU without wanting to have ever more power be accumulated in the European Commission. Why would it not be possible to be very pro-EU while even advocating that some competences should be brought back to Member State level? Logically of course it is possible to be pro-EU in that way. The problem is that if ‘pro-EU’ is by definition the same as ‘all power in Brussels’, everyone who disagrees with that automatically becomes a ‘eurosceptic’. This is very unhelpful for the EU and then subsequently for all of us. It is better to redefine the idea of how we can be ‘pro-EU’. A more inclusive idea of being ‘pro-EU’ is that ‘Pro-EU’ means that you are for the existence of the EU and that you affirm and agree with human dignity and the fundamental values derived from it as fundamental values of the EU. If that is the definition of being pro-EU, suddenly many people who first were described as ‘eurosceptics’ appear to be pro-EU. The support base of the European project suddenly appears to be much broader and stronger. In reality the number of people who want to disband the EU and disagree with the core values of the EU are really a small minority. Based on this inclusive definition of ‘pro-EU’ one can very much be patriotic and support national sovereignty and see that as essential for the future of the EU. Especially if you see strong Member States as critical for the future of the EU. After all, accumulating ever more bureaucracy in Brussels is hardly helpful for the future of the EU. To be pro-EU should not be about how many or how few competencies we locate in the European Commission. To be pro-EU should be about whether we support and embrace human dignity as foundation of the EU. This is essential for the survival of freedom and democracy in the EU. That is why we agree with the founding father of the EU, Robert Schuman who stated that ‘Democracy will be Christian or it won't exist, An unchristian democracy is a caricature which sinks into tyranny or anarchy.’. Human dignity is the essence of that Christian understanding of democracy without which the EU has no soul and no future. Human dignity is the basis for our fundamental freedoms that allow democracy to exist in the EU. If these values are the essence of the EU, the most pro-EU statement may have come in the personal testimony of ECPM spitzenkandidat Valeriu Ghilețchi: "I was born and grew up in the Soviet Union. Half of my life I spent in Soviet Moldova. Looking back and realising I am here tonight I can say that not even in my wildest dreams did I see that a former Soviet soldier would stand tonight in this free debate in Maastricht. But this proves that our dreams can become reality. And I encourage you to care for your fundamental freedoms. I am a blessed father of three children and a grandfather of seven grandchildren, my eldest son is here tonight. And I care about Europe, about the future of Europe and I believe that ECPM candidates deserve your vote in these June elections. I encourage you to support them with your vote because they are defending these fundamental freedoms. May God bless Europe!"
