Special Report
Brezhnev in Dublin
Voting until they get it right in the European Union.
The so-called Brezhnev Doctrine is at work in the European Union. “What’s mine is mine, and what’s yours is negotiable,” runs the line. When it comes to the EU, any vote to increase authority in Brussels is viewed as final. Any vote against consolidating power is treated as merely temporary.
It’s the attitude towards Ireland, which in June 2008 voted to reject the Lisbon Treaty. Since the agreement requires unanimous agreement, the referendum theoretically killed the attempt to expand the EU’s authority. However, the European elite viewed the setback as only temporary and insisted that Ireland vote again. Dublin will hold a revote on October 2.
The lack of obvious practical benefits of a consolidated government in Brussels for most Europeans has not prevented the development of a strong elite consensus behind Lisbon. Roger Cole, head of the Irish Peace and Neutrality Alliance, argues bluntly: “The EU political elite supports the treaty because it continues to transfer power away from the people and their own national democratic institutions to themselves and their institutions, the Council of Ministers, the European Court of Justice and the parliament.”
Toward this end the Swedish think tank Timbro estimates that the EU spends several billion dollars annually promoting an expanded EU. Lorraine Mullally of the London-based think tank Open Europe complains: The European Commission increasingly “sees itself not just as ‘guardian of the Treaties,’ but as a political campaign group.”
There are few dissenting public voices. Former Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek admitted: “This treaty is bad and we know it.” But he said he felt he had no choice but to support Lisbon: “If we hadn’t signed the Lisbon Treaty and had been pushed to the sidelines of the European Union we would have had no chance of promoting our national interests. That’s the main reason. It was the lesser of two evils.”
Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are no more willing than anyone else to debate popular dissatisfaction with a consolidated government. Hans-Gert Poettering, the last president of the European Parliament (EP), even advocated locking out anti-federalists: “I think it is very important that the pro-European MEPs cooperate well so the anti-Europeans cannot make their voices heard so strongly.”
The difference between popular and elite attitudes is stark. An Open Europe poll from 2007 found that roughly 75 percent of Europeans — with a clear majority in every nation — wanted to vote on any new treaty transferring power to Brussels. EU Internal Markets Commissioner (Ireland’s representative on the European Commission) Charlie McCreevy argued, undoubtedly with some hyperbole, that European leaders “know quite well that if the question was put to their electorate by a referendum the answer in 95 percent of the countries would probably have been No as well.” In fact, polls suggest that Lisbon would fail in about half of the EU members.
No wonder former French President Valery Giscard d’Estaing, who played a leading role in drafting the original constitution, opined: “Above all, it is to avoid having referendums.”
Twenty-six of 27 EU member states have approved Lisbon by parliamentary vote, usually backed by both the main governing and opposition parties. In Ireland, however, the constitution required a referendum on the treaty. And last June the measure went down to defeat.
Oops.
Although the treaty theoretically was dead, supporters assumed that eventual approval was inevitable: the only question was how?
Ironically, the pro-treaty lobby, which had designed the process to eliminate public input, expressed its democratic outrage over the result. A British Labour MP complained that the Irish had “become extremely arrogant.” Britain’s Lord Mark Malloch-Brown grandly declared that “I am not sure whether the voters of Ireland should have a right of veto over the aspirations of all the other people of Europe. I am not sure whether that is, or is not, democracy.”
Spanish EU Commissioner Joaquin Almunia claimed that it is not “very democratic” to hold a referendum on complicated issues like the Lisbon Treaty. German Interior Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble declared: “a few million Irish cannot decide on behalf of 495 million Europeans.”
Some Treaty advocates proposed throwing Ireland out of the EU or relegating the country to associate status. Most, however, preferred to pressure Dublin to hold another poll, as it had after Irish voters turned down another treaty in 2001 before ratifying it in a second vote.
The Irish government has set a repeat vote for October 2. To sweeten the pot, so to speak, other European governments have promised several future concessions, allowing Ireland to retain its national commissioner and opt out of a European foreign policy. After the recent EU summit, Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen claimed: “We came here with two aims. Ireland wanted firm legal guarantees. We got them. We wanted a commitment to a protocol. We got that.”
About the Author
Doug Bandow is a senior fellow at the Cato Institute. A former Special Assistant to President Ronald Reagan, he is the author and editor of several books, including The Politics of Plunder: Misgovernment in Washington (Transaction).
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Joseph Harriss | 8.18.09 @ 6:43AM
Great article that touches all the bases and shows up the Euro Elite Oligarchy at its old power-seeking tricks again. The contempt for the Irish and indeed all EU publics is staggering. Fortunately for Brussels, no one seems to care, as long as the subsidies to agriculture and the rest keep coming. As we used to say at Notre Dame: Go Irish!
Joseph Harriss, Paris
frost| 8.18.09 @ 7:00AM
Excellent analysis (or, so it appears, from afar), and a sticky problem for the type of people who don't like being pushed around, backed into a corner.
Hope they're able to maintain their courage.
Manuel of Wilmslow, U.K.| 8.18.09 @ 7:30AM
It is all so simple really. In 2008 the Irish gave the incorrect answer to the Lisbon question by voting "No".
To show how gracious and carring the EU is, Brussels has more or less demanded a re-run to allow the Irish the golden opportunity to give the correct answer, which is (and must be) "Yes".
The EU has repeatedly demonstrated its utter contempt for its electors, working full time on the basis "we know best of what you need". Any & all negative voting is disregarded and as in the Irish re-run, we are given an opportunity to show our 'democratic' approval so long as we voters give the right & desired answer.
It will be wonderful to behold the headless running amock of the EU should the Irish stick to their guns, shove a collective two fingers 'V' in the air, and VOTE "NO".
Oh please do, it will create an amazing spectacle, worthy of an Ealing comedy film script.
Melvin| 8.18.09 @ 8:00AM
Oh you silly stupid Irishmen. How could you be so naive to think that voting no on Lisbon would be the end of Brussels meddling in your sovereignty.
If the EU has it's way, it will make Ireland the Balkans of the West by punishing Ireland for it's defiance and drive it into the economic trash-heap.
Ireland survived the last famine by surviving on potatoes, but alas this time the EU won't even let Irishmen keep that.
Jack Olson| 8.18.09 @ 8:09AM
All or nearly all of the countries which have ratified the EU Constitution did so through their national assemblies of delegates instead of popular vote. Those who call this undemocratic are entirely correct, but have we Americans forgotten that our own Constitution was ratified in the same manner?
Lullabys, Legends and Lies| 8.18.09 @ 8:12AM
I bet you?,.. The Irish would join the American Union over the EU in a second,.. as the 51st State!!,.. they’ve never been impressed by their European neighbors,.. Ever!!,.. but the Irish love America,.. and always have!!,.. hell!!,.. there’s more Irish in America?,.. than there are in the Old country,.. and it would make about as much sense as Hawaii being part of our Union on the other side,.. so maybe they could do a write in vote for the U.S. instead,.. I’d take Ireland as the 51st State anyday,.. just to piss off Europe!!,.. maybe the Irish will get drunk on Election day too,.. just like we did last year.
Pingback| 8.18.09 @ 9:23AM
Lisbon 2 - Brezhnev in Dublin. - Politics.ie links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Charles Martel| 8.18.09 @ 9:35AM
Lullabys, the Irish didn't fight off the might of the British Empire just so as to be bossed about by Nancy Pelosi.
+++
John Armstrong| 8.18.09 @ 10:38AM
I read the article Brezhnev in Dublin with great interest. I think the key to success for the EU in its attempt to freeze out democracy while building a new soviet style dictatorship, is whether other nations outside the EU grant it official recognition.
Will The President of The United States recognise Europe's newly created 'High Representative'? Or Perhaps more importantly the new European President? Posts that will be created with the final ratification of the Lisbon Treaty, and Neither of which will carry any democratic mandate whatever.
The administration in the US is well aware of the democratic deficit in the EU. All it would take is a well directed frown of disapproval, and all the nations of Europe would be granted a referendum on their future. Though whether that would suit the purposes of the US is another question.
As for the danger to democracy in the US; get to recognise the thin end of the wedge when you see it.
Pingback| 8.18.09 @ 11:20AM
Brezhnev in Dublin : Refuse Resist links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
janet| 8.18.09 @ 11:30AM
This is just ANOTHER example of how un-democratic Europe really is. When the Constitution of the US starts with "We the People..." and the Constitution of Europe starts with "His Majesty the King of the Belgians..." it really says something. Having just recently spent time in Europe and having family still living there, I can tell you firsthand that Europe is not a democracy, but then the US is fast becoming like Europe.....
Lullabys, Legends and Lies| 8.18.09 @ 11:45AM
Charles: “The Irish didn’t fight off the might of the British Empire just so as to be bossed about by Nancy Pelosi”
Good point Chuck!!,.. I didn’t think about it like that?,.. in that light the European Union sounds a lot more inviting!!,.. so maybe we can get our “Flyover States” to join the Irish Union then?,.. that is?,.. if they’re excepting applications.
david| 8.18.09 @ 12:04PM
Do you not find it odd that many of the quotes in your article are from those on the extreme anti-American left wing. Roger Cole, Joe Higgins, etc. Why are you presenting them as serious thinkers?
Tony in Central PA| 8.18.09 @ 12:21PM
Using a democratic process to eliminate a people's representation ? Was this the devil's idea ?
Don't expect this US Administration to do anything in the name of liberty. I expect our dear leader will eventually find himself living comfortably in exile in the south of France.
Barry| 8.18.09 @ 12:28PM
Let's be honest the elite are showing a complete lack of understanding about enforcing this power grab on to us. Haven't they read any history books, there will undoubtedly be an outbreak of terrorism to free europe from the evil axis in strasbourg known only as the commission of the corruption ridden democratically deficient fascist eu.
Charles Martel| 8.18.09 @ 6:32PM
Lullabys, now you're talkin'! First we secede, then we join them. Win-win.
+++
Pingback| 8.18.09 @ 6:33PM
Lisbon 2 - Brezhnev in Dublin. - Page 2 - Politics.ie links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Jack Neidlinger| 8.18.09 @ 6:35PM
To quote Leonard Cohen
"I've seen the future and, man, it is murder"
Pingback| 8.18.09 @ 10:15PM
Doug Bandow » Blog Archive » Brezhnev in Europe: Vote for the EU, or Else! links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Nika | 8.19.09 @ 3:33AM
Brezhnev doctrine is steel live...
jordan 6 rings | 8.19.09 @ 6:07AM
I recently to visit your blog, reading, I very much enjoy, and above the content is great.
Manuel of Wilmslow, U.K.| 8.19.09 @ 12:08PM
janet| 8.18.09 @ 11:30AM
" When the Constitution of the US starts with "We the People..." and the Constitution of Europe starts with "His Majesty the King of the Belgians..." it really says something."
YOUR POINT IS...? Just what does it say? Both your quotes are just a few worthless sentiments, the meat and reallity will be found elsewhere, if it is there at all.
Pingback| 8.21.09 @ 2:21PM
Steynian 375 « Free Canuckistan! links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
JD | 8.22.09 @ 8:09AM
Great article, and depressingly true. JD.
NO TO LISBON MEANS NO TO LISBON!
http://www.facebook.com/group......amp;ref=mf
Pingback| 8.23.09 @ 5:31AM
Condensed Knowledge – August 23, 2009 – Lists - Raoul Pop links to this page. Here’s an excerpt: