In Athens, just one leftist, who won the elections, thinks he can blackmail the rest of Europe with his financial and political demands. In Budapest, a right-wing prime minister shows his enthusiasm for Russian President Putin. And the conservative British Prime Minister is digging the English Channel so that it is getting wider and wider. Three people, Alexis Tsipras, Viktor Orban and David Cameron - advocate the abolition of particularly important parts of the European consensus. How far it will lead is not yet clear. But it is clear that what is happening is dramatic.
Aid against reforms
Let's go in order: Until now, the consensus in economic policy has been that the EU helps a country in debt if that country puts its budget in order and makes its economy competitive again by implementing reforms. Countries that complied with these conditions paid a high price in the form of unemployment and reductions in social spending. Despite this, they took that path - let's face it: voluntarily. They accepted him with the knowledge that this was the only way they could get out of trouble and that they could regain a part of their independence. And only under the condition of fulfilling those conditions, the donors were ready to make a sacrifice.
Since this policy has existed, there have been many complaints, demonstrations, strikes and heated discussions about it. Nevertheless, basically the economic consensus was maintained - otherwise the unity of the EU during the euro crisis would also have been destroyed. If Alexis Tsipras thinks he can have everything, i.e. the support of other Europeans without counter-services, he leaves the common base. In the meantime, the Eurozone could economically handle Greece's exit from the common monetary union. In a political sense, of course, it would be a disaster. This would mean that the Europeans are allowing their own disintegration. Even now, however, all kinds of imitators in other countries believe that they can give their voters unrealistic hopes of shortening difficult roads. If even one government succeeds in this, it would immediately destroy all solidarity.
Friends in the Kremlin
And the consensus on the relationship with Russia is severely threatened. He says that, although sanctions may not be able to deter Putin from his imperialist policies and regardless of the fact that they may cause economic damage to the EU countries themselves, they are still important as a sign that Europe simply does not accept violent border changes. It is interesting that both the leftist Tsipras in Greece and the rightist Orban in Hungary believe that the EU should be more understanding of Moscow.
At least Orbán, but not only him, even shows Putin open sympathy for his political style: The way Putin treats the opposition, the media, homosexuals or refugees has a very encouraging effect on some politicians in the EU. And that then again encourages Putin to actively promote the division of the EU. Because it is easier for Putin to oppose a divided EU.
When all the ramparts fall
In the end, a British peculiarity. They generally question the European willingness to compromise. No matter how justified some of the demands from London on the new redistribution of competences in the EU or liberal economic policy might be - David Cameron and his party comrades often put them so harshly and ultimatum that others can only reject them if they want to preserve their self-respect.
The fronts are completely sharpened. In the meantime, it no longer seems out of the question that Great Britain will completely leave the EU after the referendum is called. That would be a disaster in itself. However, then all the bulwarks would finally fall for the rest of the EU. Other countries could either immediately follow the British example or, as a condition of remaining in the Union, ask for more and more exceptions to the rules until, in the end, there would be almost nothing left of the common ground.
Consensus is not a value in itself
Consensus is not a value in itself. There is forced, opportunistic or one for which there is no interest and thus only an apparent consensus. But if Europeans fight for it and then use it to achieve a common goal, it has great value. No EU country can defend its interests in the world by itself anymore, but only in cooperation with other members. This is true for large countries like Germany or Great Britain, and especially for small ones like Greece or Hungary. But for this purpose a common ground is needed. Anyone who questions this should provide an answer, then what is the alternative.
(Deutsche Welle)
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