Europe in Crisis—Is This the End of the European Union?
French and Dutch voters have rejected the new European constitution,
while Paris and London are fighting over European finances. Will the European
Union survive the current turmoil?
by Melvin Rhodes
Exactly 190 years after the Battle of Waterloo, when the
British defeated Napoleon and ended one dictator's ambition of global conquest,
the British and French were fighting again over the future of Europe. This
time, the Brits were outnumbered 24-1.
Less than a month earlier French voters had rejected their president's
recommendation and voted "non" on the proposed European constitution. Three
days later, Dutch voters followed suit.
But somehow, less than four
weeks later it was the British who were considered the bad Europeans and the
chief obstacle to further European unity.
The European summit chaired by the prime minister of Luxembourg,
Jean-Claude Juncker, June 16 and 17, failed to resolve major differences between
Britain and France. The British have been major net contributors to the EU
since membership in 1973, while France has been a major recipient.
In 1984 Britain's prime minister at the time, Margaret Thatcher,
demanded and won an annual rebate of the U.K. subsidy to even things out.
The other 24 countries of the EU want the rebate ended. The British insist
it remain until the French agree to reduce farm subsidies. These eat up 40
percent of the EU budget, while only 5 percent of Europe's people are employed
in farming.
The French, with multiple small-scale farms, are major recipients
of farm support. In effect, the British would be subsidizing the French, if
they give up the rebate Mrs. Thatcher negotiated!
Europe vs. the United States
Sometimes it's hard for Americans to understand Europe, as it
is for Europeans to understand America. Europeans and others have little comprehension
of just how big the United States is.
Americans, on the other hand, have difficulty understanding that
each European country is distinct from the others, with its own ethnic identity,
language and way of life.
