The American Spectator

At Large

Klaus Encounters

By Doug Bandow on 5.11.09 @ 6:07AM

(Page 2 of 2)

If the Lisbon Treaty passes, then what? European policies will be further internationalized. European nations' sovereignty will be further eroded. European traditions will be further submerged. European peoples will be less free.

Which explains Vaclav Klaus' sharp critique. "Are you really convinced that every time you take a vote, you are deciding something that must be decided here in this hall and not closer to the citizens, i.e. inside the individual European states," he asked the European Parliament. Unfortunately, most of them are: His talk elicited "boos and catcalls and a walk-out by some members," explained New Europe.

Yet even if the Eurocrats win, they aren't likely to create a new nation state capable of challenging Washington for global influence. Rather, the EU will just create a slightly more pretentious political hollow shell.

In his valedictory address as European President, Nicolas Sarkozy said: "the world needs a strong Europe and that Europe cannot be strong if it is not united." But the Lisbon Treaty does not unite Europe. The wealthier West has rejected a plea by the East for a financial bailout. In a January poll barely one quarter of Europeans knew that parliamentary elections were even scheduled this year. The percentage likely to vote is down from the last election. And the governing establishment is afraid to let the people vote on the Lisbon Treaty. If the only way to strengthen the EU structure is to limit popular participation, then Europe must not be united. Would anyone, other than Belgians (and maybe not even them), today die for Brussels? Passing Lisbon won't create a continental identity now absent.

What the Sarkozys of Europe desire is greater international influence, but European unity or not, Europeans lack the desire and their governments lack the ability to take the necessary politically tough, financially expensive, and militarily risky steps. Even Sarkozy's supposedly successful EU presidency last year mostly reflected his stature as the hyperactive president of France. And European disunity quickly followed such ephemeral successes as confronting the Russia-Georgia war and economic crisis, for instance.

Washington is seen, for better or worse, as speaking on behalf of Americans as well as America. They consider the U.S. to be their country; they elect the head of government as well as the legislature; they finance and serve in a military actually capable of combat; they back their government (too enthusiastically too often, in my view) when it uses that military. None of these conditions apply to Europe today; none would be changed by Lisbon.

Some younger pan-Europeans exist, but most Europeans remain loyal first to their national government. Lisbon builds a higher appointed structure, not a broader elected structure.

Moreover, few European governments have militaries with meaningful combat capabilities, and even fewer are ready to use their militaries in real war. French President Sarkozy claimed that had Ireland not rejected the treaty Lisbon would have "guaranteed Europe's security for many years" by an "obligation of solidarity," whatever that is. However, former French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine admitted: "At no point have the Europeans shown an appetite for a truly European defense. They don't want to devote more money to defense." Indeed, Bastian Biegerich of the International Institute for Strategic Studies observed: "The majority of EU member states appear unable to deploy formations of even battalion size (500-800 troops) on a single mission." To the extent there is any European will for military action, it involves low-risk "peace-keeping" missions, not real wars. From such does not spring an influential nation state.

A surge of continental nationalism might eventually sweep Europe. But attempting to force recalcitrant peoples into a new political order is more likely to build resistance than support for Brussels. Vaclav Klaus, who says he will not approve the treaty's ratification until after the Irish vote, may not be popular with the European Parliament, but he, far more than the EU's official leaders, represents the European people.

Letter to the Editor

topics:
European Union, Lisbon Treaty, Vaclav Klaus