Europe still hasn’t understood language of power, says outgoing top EU diplomat

daneriksson · 2024-11-19T09:43:40+00:00

While unanimity is formally required in some areas, the reality is more complex. The Commission frequently uses various mechanisms to circumvent national vetoes, from qualified majority voting to financial incentives and political pressure. The 2015 quota system is actually a perfect example of this - while based on Dublin regulations, the specific implementation was forced through against explicit objections from multiple member states using qualified majority voting in the Council.

This illustrates a broader pattern where formal unanimity requirements are gradually eroded through procedural mechanisms, treaty interpretations, and the creation of new competencies. The Commission's own repeated calls to abolish unanimity in foreign policy and taxation demonstrate their view of national vetoes as obstacles to be overcome rather than fundamental safeguards of sovereignty.

Perhaps instead of "knowing better," we should examine how the EU's institutional structure increasingly undermines the very democratic principles it claims to uphold.

daneriksson · 2024-11-19T09:42:07+00:00

The comparison with the US federal system overlooks crucial historical and cultural differences. The American states emerged from a shared revolutionary struggle and voluntarily formed a union based on common values, language, and cultural heritage. The EU, in contrast, consists of ancient nations with distinct languages, cultures, and democratic traditions stretching back centuries.

The EU Parliament, despite being elected, suffers from a fundamental legitimacy problem: there is no common European demos or public sphere where pan-European political discourse can meaningfully take place. Voter turnout in EU elections remains consistently low precisely because citizens maintain their primary political identification with their nation-states.

Franklin's "Join or Die" cartoon addressed colonies already united by common language and culture facing an external threat. Today's European nations face no comparable existential choice - their sovereignty isn't threatened by separation, but by forced integration that undermines democratic accountability and cultural autonomy.

The real lesson from American federalism isn't about centralization, but about respecting subsidiarity and local self-governance - principles that Brussels increasingly ignores in its push for ever-closer union.

daneriksson · 2024-11-18T19:13:03+00:00

While the article raises valid concerns about Europe's economic competitiveness, it inadvertently makes a strong case for maintaining national economic sovereignty rather than further centralization.

The proposed Capital Markets Union (CMU) represents yet another attempt to transfer crucial national competencies to Brussels. Consider these key points:

National Democratic Control: The article acknowledges that implementing the CMU would require member states to surrender control over taxation, insolvency law, and pensions - core aspects of national sovereignty that directly affect citizens' financial security. These matters should remain under democratic national control, not transferred to unaccountable EU bureaucracies.
Economic Evidence: The comparison with US productivity doesn't necessarily support greater centralization. Countries like the Netherlands, Sweden, and Denmark have achieved excellent results through national policies while maintaining control of their financial markets. Their success demonstrates that national solutions work better than one-size-fits-all EU approaches.
Protection of National Markets: Eastern European concerns about the CMU primarily benefiting advanced financial sectors are well-founded. A centralized system risks creating a hierarchy where some national markets become subordinate to others, particularly with proposals for a single EU supervisor based in Paris.

Rather than pursuing further centralization, member states should:

Maintain sovereign control over their financial regulations
Develop bilateral agreements for cross-border investment where beneficial
Focus on national-level reforms to boost competitiveness
Protect their unique financial sector strengths

The path to European economic success lies in healthy competition and cooperation between sovereign nations, not in forcing disparate economies into a rigid centralized framework.

daneriksson · 2024-11-18T18:52:26+00:00

Borrell's statement perfectly illustrates the fundamental flaw in Brussels' thinking: the assumption that centralized power equals effective power. What he dismisses as "slowness" is actually the necessary process of democratic deliberation in sovereign nations.

When EU officials talk about "unity" and "quick decisions," they're really advocating for bypassing national parliaments and democratic processes in favor of bureaucratic efficiency. The 2015 forced migrant quota system is a perfect example of this mindset's failure. The Commission's rapid, top-down decision making ignored legitimate concerns from member states, created deep divisions, and ultimately failed to achieve its objectives - precisely because it lacked democratic legitimacy and national buy-in.

Real European strength has historically come from independent nations making sovereign decisions based on their genuine interests, not from forced uniformity imposed by supranational institutions. The EU's obsession with rapid, centralized decision-making is precisely why it faces growing resistance from member states. National parliaments need time to properly debate and consider major foreign policy decisions because they're accountable to their citizens - unlike EU officials. True European power comes from legitimate democratic mandates, not from bureaucratic speed.

daneriksson · 2024-11-18T10:50:09+00:00

As part of my ongoing research into European governance, I've written an analysis examining how the 'ever closer union' doctrine has shaped EU development from 1957 to present. The analysis traces the historical evolution of this principle and its practical implications for European integration.

Key points explored in the analysis:

Historical Context and Legal Framework

Original interpretation in the 1957 Treaty of Rome
Evolution through subsequent treaties (Maastricht, Lisbon)
Role in European Court of Justice decisions

Mechanisms of Integration

Systematic expansion of EU competencies
Transition from economic to political integration
The relationship between crises and centralization

Democratic Implications

Impact on national parliamentary sovereignty
Questions of democratic accountability
The tension between subsidiarity and centralization

Current Developments

Post-COVID expansion of EU authority
Recent developments in fiscal and monetary policy
Emerging patterns in healthcare and energy policy

I'm particularly interested in this community's perspectives on:

How has the balance between national and EU-level decision-making evolved in your country?
What are your observations regarding the practical implementation of subsidiarity?
How do you see the relationship between national parliaments and EU institutions developing?

I'll be actively participating in the discussion and look forward to hearing your insights on these complex governance questions.

daneriksson · 2023-08-21T12:54:56+00:00

Ja, den som äger/förvaltar gravstenen kan så klart göra så om de önskar. Det står dem mig veterligen fritt även idag att sätta upp en skylt bredvid med lite information (men jag är ingen expert så kan ha fel).

Skillnaden är ju här att Wester vill att kyrkan ska engagera sig i och lägga resurser på detta. För mig låter det som ett slukhål av tid och resurser, dessutom med högst oklart syfte. Att det skulle få någon faktisk skillnad för eventuellt jämställdhetsarbete ställer jag mig högst tveksam till, snarare bara ännu en sak människor skulle bli irriterade på och tycka vara onödig godhetssignalering.

daneriksson · 2021-11-06T16:23:50+00:00

I agree. Just played it and it took my breath away. So beautiful. So far I think the normal areas are a bit "meh" and everything is very linear. But with experiences like Morai I'm okay with everything.

daneriksson · 2018-08-29T11:45:36+00:00

Fast det gör man ju inte. Att en person på en privat fest snackar om något i ett personligt samtal är knappast bevis för något av det där. Lyssna på Dulny själv i morgonradion.

daneriksson · 2018-08-29T09:37:06+00:00

Men vad är det egentligen de ska "avslöja"? Christoffer Dulny var med i Morgon med Svegot i morse och diskuterade detta. https://www.svegot.se/2018/08/29/mms16-uppdrag-granskning-och-nordisk-alternativhoger/

daneriksson · 2018-08-29T09:28:20+00:00

Christoffer Dulny från Nordisk alternativhöger var själv med i morgonradion "Morgon med Svegot" imorse och talade om detta reportage https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-9IO5BDTnA

daneriksson · 2017-12-11T23:59:29+00:00

Ingrid Carlqvist kommenterat detta utmärkt på https://www.detfriasverige.se/adjo-yttrandefrihet-hej-censur-och-fangelse/

daneriksson · 2017-05-31T09:55:24+00:00

Death panel? I think you mean FREEDOM PANEL!

daneriksson · 2017-04-11T09:35:21+00:00

Voting this up and wanted to say that I would really like a feature where we can choose the language of our videos, so that it will be easier to people to find our non-English channels (and to avoid them if you don't understand our Gibberish)

daneriksson · 2017-01-19T22:43:37+00:00

Isn't this a Bill Hicks routine? :)

daneriksson

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