Do we really need to save Europe again?
Since when did the EU become Europe? In today’s papers, we read that German politicians are telling Britain that we must play our part to save “Europe”. This, surely, is an opportunity for David Cameron to remind the Germans (and French, too, for that matter) that Britain has already saved Europe once in living memory and the EU is simply an organisation representing 27 European nations.
The present woes affecting the EU are the direct consequence of the organisation’s ill-conceived determination to lock 17 of these states into an illogical and unworkable monetary union. Any financial contribution by the UK to a Eurozone bail-out would simply involve throwing good money after bad.
Now, having got that off my chest, let’s look at what’s happening in the Eurozone. Last week, Angela Merkel said she was determined to pursue closer European political union “step-by-step”. We’ve witnessed step one: the ruthless regime changes imposed on Greece and Italy, where democratically-elected leaders were replaced with unelected technocrats loyal to the EU. So what’s step two?
My guess is that the EU will fairly soon propose a treaty change that demands fiscal union within the Eurozone. This will radically affect the national sovereignty of the member countries. Without the power to determine their own tax rates or spending programmes, Eurozone governments will become – in Norman Tebbitt’s words – no more than rate-capped local councils. And guess where the tax and spend policies will originate? Berlin, of course. After all, he who pays the piper calls the tune.
The British Government is worried that our exclusion from this integrated inner-core will weaken our influence in the EU. While one might fairly ask what influence? we actually have a fairly strong hand, if we play it wisely.
For a start, we are the second largest contributor to the EU coffers (after Germany), so can demand attention (he who pays the piper etc); secondly, we are a net importer of European goods. So, being beastly to the Brits is not a good way to promote trade; and, thirdly, British armed forces provide a major component of the putative European army. In short, the EU needs us. So let’s leverage that to our advantage. Over to you Dave.
