At this time of year my housemate keeps hopefully looking out for the frost which she loves crunching through, but is instead greeted with the dreary Manchester drizzle and the need for unfashionable waterproofs to cycle into lectures. To offset the weather I binge buy books on the politics of development and international organisations whilst dreaming of African sunshine. However, as plane tickets to Tanzania have not been forthcoming to disperse the gloom, I took the next best option; a date to my favourite Italian restaurant and then the German Christmas Markets. During this we talked about my boyfriend’s proposed interrail trip around various parts of Europe and my possible trip to Rome in January to meet the Vice Presidents of the EU Council and Parliament.
That prospect seemed a bit flat given we have a new EU President, who is from Belgium, and Foreign Minister from the UK. Did you notice that happen? Maybe you didn’t. After all, we didn’t get to vote on the matter, either for the creation of the posts or the people who took them. We delegated that to the leaders of each of the EU states. Even then it was a stitch up before they came to the table. (France and Germany backed the Belgium dude, so they had to give the UK a position to calm us down after Blair didn’t get the top job). Even The Economist thought this was a mistake as if we are going to have these positions, we should a least go at them all guns blazing rather than with a women who like ‘quiet diplomacy’ and a man whose most noticeable attribute is that his name sounds suspiciously like ‘Rumpy Pumpy’.
Laying my cards on the table I must admit that I am generally a fan of European integration. However, I have felt for a while that the leaders of Europe have been trying to integrate at the speed of Usain Blot, wham bam, no more European conflict to add to my political legacy. The citizens of Europe seem to be taking a marathon runners approach to EU integration, with the appropriate drink and toilet stops along the way.
In political leadership I don’t think we are looking for someone who will be at the back, rallying the slowest of the country to their cause, but when they start to outstrip the moderates with their desire for change without explaining the reasons there is a chance their citizens will just drop out of the race altogether. Even David Cameron has infuriated his own party, backing down from the referendum they proposed. Should we accept the fact the UK simply doesn’t, and perhaps shouldn’t, carry the clout it once does and acknowledge that with our neighbours we are stronger?
I have been surprised that none of the coverage of the Lisbon treaty and our new President has bothered to make the link these changes have come into force around the time Remembrance Services have been taking place.
The legacy of two world wars fought over European soil are the institutions and powers of the EU which our press and many citizens now can’t stomach, but without them would we have the lasting peace that we enjoy now? Just imagine going to war with Italy; Berlusconi might not be to you taste, but we work round it with diplomacy rather than death. Yet the same papers which use the rhetoric ‘never again’ are just as quick to go for the jugular of the current EU system.
The democratic legitimacy of the situation is massively questionable, but I don’t feel the EU is seeking to justify its existence for the sake of it. We might lose sovereignty to Europe on some issues, but I am happy if that includes adherence to the European Court of Human Rights (something our government doesn’t always see fit to do), easier legislation on things such as Chemical standards (freeing up time in our own Parliament) and open borders to students and workers . Furthermore, the UK does retain it’s strong voice and presence in the EU, shown through the latest appointments.
In the mean time, I will continue to reveal in the openness of the European system which has brought me friendships, peace and excellent pizza while hoping that our leaders don’t destroy the steady building of this continent’s legacy as they race to construct their own.
