EU Referendum


Eurocrash: Merkel backs United States of Europe


21/06/2012



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The tempo increases. In the wake of Westerwelle's Future Group report, Merkel was on the idiots' lantern this morning, speaking to the ARD "Morning Magazine" programme.

As reported by Handelsblatt, she wants to give "more power and drive" to Europe at the European Council in late June. "We need not only a monetary union, but we also need a so-called fiscal union … And we need above all a political union", she said.

 
Merkel also pleaded for a two-speed Europe. Already, there are examples, such as the Schengen rules on free movement and travel to the eurozone, she said. Although one must "always allow all to participate" and be open, "we must not stop because one or the other will not go along".
 
The European Council, therefore, is shaping up to be an epic event, although there are also strains showing. Bavarian first minister Horst Seehofer wants to avoid a discussion on the political unity of Europe. He wants to see current difficulties solved first.

However, SPD leader Sigmar Gabriel called it "a new dramatic turn". After over three years and a "near-hopeless situation", Merkel was recognising that the lack of political union accompanying European Monetary Union constituted "a birth defect". The SPD leader said it was "imperative" to make further steps towards political integration of the EU.

The Greens also demand a clearer commitment. "We now need a political union", they say, "but it must be authentic". This is Green party leader Cem Ozdemir. He complains that Merkel's reluctance in recent years had led to the ever deeper into crisis, with Germany isolated at European and international level.

On the other hand, Left Party leader Gregor Gysi accuses Merkel of splitting Europe into three groups: a core Europe, peripheral Europe, an EU and a non-EU parts of Europe. This is something Cameron will have to confront when he goes to Brussels at the end of the month.

Westerwelle's report is not without its critics, but the indications from Westerwelle himself are that Berlin wants political union in order to compensate for German economic dominance. In other words, the post-war paradigm still holds. Germany is offering new shackles to her European partners, to reassure them that her power is constrained.

"I don't want a German Europe ... I want a European Germany", Westerwelle says. Asked if Germany was becoming too dominant at the moment, he admitted there was occasionally a tendency to boast, which concerned him. And there was also a tendency toward re-nationalisation throughout Europe. He opposed this. 

This side of the Channel, though, such issues are not being debated in the media with any intensity. The English papers and broadcast media insist on treating this almost exclusively as an economics issue. Thus, the degree to which the political agenda has advanced is going to come as something of a shock when Cameron goes to Brussels.

Very quickly, it well be realised that "Europe" is venturing into territory where we cannot follow. We are coming to a parting of the ways.

COMMENT: "UNITED STATES OF EUROPE" THREAD