by N. Peter Kramer
Probably the late Friday night brought the European council to this unanimously taken decision; the leaders wanted to go home, the weekend drew near and two days ‘Brussels’ is more than enough…
It is astonishing that Cameron’s proposals for a modest set of reforms caused that much difficulty. Is it unreasonable to ask that the EU commit itself to cutting red tape? Is it really a step too far to protect the interests of memberstates outside the Eurozone? And what is so shocking about the proposition that British taxpayers should not have to pay such generous child benefits to children living overseas? All of this represents already a downgrading of David Cameron’s ambitions when he started the negotiations. Eurosceptics consider the result that the prime-minister brought back to London as rather small beer. British voters are staggered that European leaders have such a problem with so little, whilst these Presidents and Prime-Ministers are, at the same time, completely incompetent and unable to find solutions for the refugee crisis that is overwhelming the EU and its neighbours.
On purpose (by some) or not, the Council has with its decision about the UK implicitly chosen for a future of the EU with greater integration, even the smallest reform is regarded as a challenge to the philosophy of an ever closer union. Ironically the summit last week highlighted that the negotiations with the UK and, even more dramatically, finding solutions for the refugee crisis showed that national interests are by far priority number one for the memberstates. There is no better way to judge the state of the EU than the way the leaders handle major matters.
An ever closer union? Let’s call it a utopian fantasy!
