,
13 tweets,
3 min read
Read on Twitter
The Europe manifesto from @akk -- some comments. cdu.de/artikel/gettin…
Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer (AKK) is in the pole position to succeed Merkel. There is a high probability that her approach is becoming the German approach sometime in the next years. /1
AKK's starting point is not, as usual in the last years and even decades, the supposed fragility of internal arrangements in the EU, it is not another attempt to improve the existing institutional framework of the EU. /2
Her starting point instead is the global strategic environment: the question whether Europe wants to shape its future and the global environment, or to be shaped by others? /3
AKK apparently assumes that we're moving towards a "multipolar world" with a few centres, in other words, towards a world dominated by great power competition -- with China and the US as dominant powers, and an aggressive Russia. /4
The way to protect "the European way of life" is not via EU-federalism (=state-like institutions on the EU level): "European centralism, European statism, the communitarisation of debts, the Europeanisation of social systems, and the minimum wage would be the wrong approach." /5
"There is no version of a European superstate which can live up to the goal of a Europe made up of sovereign Member States, and able to take action. The work of the European institutions cannot claim any moral superiority over the collaborative effort of national governments." /6
Conclusion: "Our Europe should therefore stand on two equal pillars: the Intergovernmental method and the Community method." /7
AKK's European agenda: Instead of focussing primarily on building and improving joint institutions, EU capitals need to cooperate better in a number of areas: innovation, fight against climate change, taxes, border control, migration policy. /8
And European capitals need to assert their interests globally. AKK wants a joint European permanent seat at the UN Security Council, set up a new European Security Council (that includes the UK), and build a joint European aircraft carrier. /9
AKK's ambition is to design a "third way" ahead for Europe: between federalism ("superstate") and nationalism. She wants the capitals to be clearly in charge, to drive the political process. /10
"A new Europe cannot be founded without the nation states: they provide democratic legitimacy and identification. It is the Member States that formulate and bring together their own interests at the European level. This is what gives Europeans their international weight." /11
In other words: in a world in which (naked) power again dominates, in which Europe stands largely alone, and in which institutions and rules are on the defensive, Europe can only act collectively and decisively if the European nation states are driving the process. /12
