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Poland, Hungary and now the Czechs are amongst the biggest net recievers from EU budget and seem to get more and more critical of the EU.
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The economic and social development which the EU perspective and membership has brought has been huge. Just compare to those outside.
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Still, the sentiment favours populistic eurosceptic candidates and parties. The reasons are manyfold, but I will point out a few of them.
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1) Unrealistic expectations. Many thought that their country would catch up German living standards in a decade. Of course they didn't.
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Even the Eastern part of German hasn't come to same level with the west in 25 years despite even bigger aid. So how could've them do it?
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This unreasonable narrative is still a fact, and has created bitterness amongst the people.
This leads me to point 2, political culture:
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This leads me to point 2, political culture:
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2) There has been too few politicians and parties who have tried and/or succeed with a positive "macron" EU agenda in domestic politics.
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There has been a lack of a narrative highlighting the amazing success that EU has brought. And one with a sense of ownership of the EU
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The question has been: "What can EU give to us?", instead of "What can we achieve together by using EU as a tool to provide added value?"
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"Brussels" or "Commission" cannot create this narrative to Member States. It needs to be borne within. Without, the future is worrying
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The strange thing is that the citizens in these countries have very positive attitude towards the EU. Amazing that nobody taps into that
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My fear is that the populistic path leads to divergence from the EU core values of freedom and Rule of Law - until a breaking point.
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We are preparing the next budget frames. How long the other MS are willing to pay large sums for cohesion if it leads to divergence?
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This would be a very sad and dangerous development. But I can see big risks here. It is not too late to reconsider this path carefully.
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Because EU is just too big to fail. Peace is just too valuable for Europe and the world to be lost. And it's on responsibilty of us all
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