The EU crisis behind Brexit

Is the EU still capable of self-criticism? This question should be asked on B-Day, Brexit Day, in Brussels. The EU leadership is conjuring up unity, but the deep crisis of the bloc is (once again) being repressed.

„Our experience has taught us that strength does not lie in ’splendid isolation‘ but in our unique Union,“ says Commission President von der Leyen. In future, the expectations of the citizens must be placed at the centre, says Council President Michel. Europe must „show its added value on a daily basis“.

These are the same slogans that were already prayed down before the British referendum on the EU in 2016. Little has followed from them. The „unique union“ has proved too weak to save the Iran deal and too remote to abolish the time change (as promised) – to name but two examples.

Above all, it has still not addressed the question of why the brexite could have come about. There was more than enough time – and there is convincing evidence on the table. The mixture of austerity policy and refugee chaos made the Brexiters‘ victory possible – together with the EU’s speechlessness.

Ex-Commission chief Juncker has at least already admitted that it was a mistake to go into hiding and remain silent before the British referendum. But what about Chancellor Merkel, who had fiddled with ex-Prime Minister Cameron until the very end? She was partly responsible for the poisonous cocktail of 2016.

And the crisis is not yet over. Berlin has calmed down with (allegedly) high approval ratings for the EU. The high voter turnout for the European elections is also often cited. However, the fraud committed against the voters in the nomination of Frau von der Leyen is deliberately concealed.

The crisis of democracy, which Cameron cited in his infamous Bloomberg speech, is greater than ever. The refugee crisis has not been resolved either. Only the austerity policy has been eased a little. But Germany still refuses to provide a fiscal stimulus, as the IMF demands.

And new crises are emerging – keyword Iran, but also Iraq, Syria, Libya and the Middle East. So where is the „geopolitical commission“? And where is the „sovereign Europe“ when it comes to the trade dispute with the USA? Von der Leyen seems to be buckling even before she goes to Washington.

But the biggest problem could prove to be an aspect that has so far received little attention: The fact that brexite is now occurring is a major defeat for the EU. After all, in recent months it has left no stone unturned in its efforts to avert withdrawal and annul the brexite vote.

Brexit must not be a success

For the first time in recent history it has not been possible to reverse a referendum that was detrimental to the EU elites. In the dispute over the Constitutional Treaty with France, the Netherlands and Ireland, things were different – there the mainstream prevailed.

All the more reason for the European elites to try to spit in the soup. The brexite must not be a success – otherwise it would be proven that it can be done without the EU. And that could trigger the next – possibly fatal – crisis…

See also EU crisis: 2020 will be the year of truth and „After the brexite is before the next deal“. There is also „The end of the EU as we know it“ (e-book)

P.S. Even the leader of the conservative EPP group, M. Weber (CSU), shares our analysis: „If the brexite is felt to be a success, then it is the beginning of the end of the EU,“ he told the „world“. Well then, set out a few stumbling blocks …

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version). The original post (in German) is here