2011-12-09

In the EU, democracy = populism

European Politicians Slam British EU Veto
There has also been sharp criticism of Cameron's attitude from the co-chairman of the Greens group in the European Parliament, Franco-German politician Daniel Cohn-Bendit. "Cameron is a coward," he said. He accused the British prime minister of not wanting to deal with the conflict over the Europe Union within his Conservative Party. Cameron, he said, had "manoeuvred himself into a populist corner" from which he would no longer emerge.
Populism is the term used by the EU to describe democracy. Cameron has said he would allow a referendum on the EU, allowing the British people to decide their fate. While this quote is bad, too much press is given to the first part of this quote:
Cameron's use of his veto has provided for much discontent within the European Parliament. "It was a mistake to admit the British into the European Union," said Alexander Graf Lambsdorff, a prominent German MEP with the business-friendly Free Democrats, and vice chair of ALDE, the liberal block in the European Parliament. The UK must now renegotiate its relationship with the EU, he said. "Either they do it by themselves, or the EU will be founded anew -- without Great Britain," Lambsdorff said. "Switzerland is also a possible role model for the British," he added, refering to the fiercely independent stance of the Alpine country, which is not an EU member.
The UK is similar to the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, not continental European states. Opposition to the EU is strongest in the UK and the British seem to be the most reliable anti-EU voices across Europe. But let's see how things turn out in the coming days and weeks. Social mood is certainly declining and that's bad news for unity, but the Europeans are throwing a hissy fit at the moment and cooler heads are more likely to prevail. If not, then look for this rhetoric to accelerate and turn into political action.

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