Europe and its enemies

by Athanase Papandropoulos

The last 170 years, Europe and the warring powers fighting within, caused two World Wars and various intra-European conflicts. During the same period (1850-2017), the European continent created and developed two ideological “monsters” on which were based two odious totalitariarisms: national socialism and communism. 

The first one was the cause of the Second World War –and that what its fatal mistake. It was defeated by the powers of democracy, although it left behind about 70 million dead people as well as the Holocaust, a monument of brutality and shame for the man and his history. Communism, on its part, after subjugated almost the half of Europe, collapsed because its perverse nature was contrary to progress and human dignity. It left behind another 100 million victims and countless spiritual ruins.

As for Europe’s liberal democracies, part of which is also the democratic socialism, after the storm of the 1939-1944 period, they decided to reconcile in peace, facing at the same time the threat of communism. Thus, starting with the coal and steel agreement, a Europe of six member states took place, which, with the Treaty of Rome, opted for the economy as a stepping stone for its subsequent political integration. That Europe, in the last 60 years became the first trade power in the world, while at the same time became a model of social welfare.

The friendship between France and Germany was the base on which the European Economic Community of 1957 and the lateral European Union of 1993 constituted a unique experiment for the international history. The experiment of the integration of 27 nations – which although they speak 23 different languages and have different traditions and economies, decided to accept the same values and principles for peace and democracy.

On the basis of that common agreement, the Europe of the 27 countries faces today new challenges that in any case are impossible to be confronted with the same criteria of the Rome Treaty. The world changes, Europe gets old, its enemies are growing and the economic competence gets harder. On the shifting sands of geopolitics and geo-economics, Europe has to find a new pace. Europe needs, more than ever, a new vision.

Within Europe, the destroyed Germany of 1945, became today its economic motor and the second exporting power worldwide. It is normal defending that position, which it maintains even though it had to overcome the cost of its reunification after the fall of communism. However, at this point of the European crisis, Germany’s position is the perfect alibi for those who would like to destroy the European project–in and out- and they are many. For this reason the last period we can observe a wave of anti-German attacks with various origins and different motives.

First of all the Anglo-Saxon world never had an eye for the creation of Eurozone. Both London and Wall Street were considering euro as a strong dollar’s competitor, which sooner or later could attract a part of world savings. Even worse, euro’s presence would enhance also the European stock markets instead of London’s and New York’s, which until 2002 were representing the 80% of the financial exchanges worldwide. Let us not forget that 25 years ago, when the Japanese currency, yen, was rising and gaining ground as saving currency, the Bush government started a formidable trade and monetary attack against Japan and as a result the country of the Rising Sun got into long stagnation and the Japanese currency completely abolished its prestige and attractiveness.

Nowadays, if Europe would lose the euro fight, it is certain that will have a similar luck to Japan. This is the main reason why the Anglo-Saxon media challenge the Franco-German cooperation and certainly do not wish a potential economic governance of the Eurozone.

To confirm the above mentioned, it is enough to recall that, after the decisions of 21 July 2011 regarding the support to Greece and euro, massive withdrawals of US funds from the French banks occurred, which as a result had a significant decline of their liquidity position. Afterwards, in early November 2011, the clearing company Clearnet began an attack against the Italian bonds by  rising the interest rates, while President Barak Obama with his statements to the American people did not hesitate to blame Europe as responsible for the duration of the crisis -which, incidentally, started from the US.

However, apart from the Anglo-Saxon attacks and Brexit, the Eurozone receives also intolerable trade pressure from China, which keeps its national currency devalued -with all that this implies through the competitive perspective for the European industry and employment. Unfortunately, while the American deficits are abysmal, the currency war worldwide will be silent, but rather hard for the European economy and the advanced social background. And in this respect, the positions of President Donald Trump as expressed to the Chancellor Angela Merkell, mean a lot. They foreshadow tensions that are difficult to predict how they will be interpreted by the markets.

This state-of-play is the one that the Eurosceptic powers of the EU try to get profited by, in order to develop a stronger base. Thus, except of nationalism and xenophobia, this forces attack against the euro as well, having as spearhead the “Front National” party of France. Under these circumstances, EU is in a crucial point and if its leaders will not decide to enhance the information of their citizens, we will reach much unpleasant situations, under the burden of the general misinformation, especially through the web. The populism is present once again and will always be lurking to take revenge against history.