- Staff Notice
PRAGUE -- Far-right populists in Europe vowed Saturday to work together to create a new model of intercontinental cooperation that is far removed from the European Union. They attacked the EU for its migrant policies, accused its leader of trying to create a super state run by Brussels and praised U.S. President Trump's approach to migration.
Leaders of parties from France, the Netherlands, Italy, Austria, Britain and other countries met in Prague to discuss ideas for Europe's future under the headline "For a Europe of Sovereign Nations."
Just come across this story from the weekend which the BBC did not report on.... I happen to think it is a very significant story and could mark a milestone in the history of Europe.
When Merkel invited the million war-torn Syrian refugees to Germany to bolster German pensions, did she at that precise point sow the seeds of the EU's demise which has directly led to this meeting of European far right and right wing leaders?
Language, culture, history are very important to the many people's of Europe, but the EU model is one of trying to merge very different countries together "for the common good." When those Syrian refugees travelled across the continent, we saw this "common good" in action. Countries put up border controls and walls to keep them out.
I am very pro-EU in many respects, but I do not agree with the EU mantra of "ever closer union." What's wrong with simply getting on with your neighbours? I would no-more merge with my neighbours than I would expect the countries of Europe to merge together to form some sort of United States of Europe. Something the German and French leaders (past and present) say they don't want, yet on the other hand keep pushing the "ever closer union" agenda.
Could this meeting be the start of something more practical and more importantly, something that the peoples of Europe actually want, which is a Europe of sovereign nations working together but not merging together?