November
27thDispatches from the month that was. Two
leaders, Two views. One Europe to save.
“Europe
is in one of its toughest, perhaps the toughest hour since World War
Two,” said Angela Merkel in the city of Leipzig. "The Euro is
the symbol of unification. It is the symbol for half a century of
freedom and peace....now we have to make sure that Europe will emerge
strengthened from this crisis. If the Euro fails then Europe fails,
and we want to prevent and we will prevent this, this is what we are
working for.
“Irish
problems are Slovak problems, Greek problems are Dutch problems and
Spanish problems are our problem,” Merkel said. “Our
responsibility does not end at our borders.”
A
breakthrough in the crisis will be achieved not by less Europe, but
more. The task of our generation now is to complete the economic and
currency union in Europe and step by step, create a political union
we never managed to build in the '90s. It's time for a breakthrough
to a new Europe.”
 |
| Left: A time of crisis in West Belfast. A youth leaps away from a burnt out car. Fast forward and a visitor from the Basque Country sees a different view. |
“These
are times of change. Assumptions are collapsing. Fears about Europe’s
future are understandably intense.” Warned David Cameron at the
Mayor's banquet in London. Think how the European Union looks to
those watching. A source of alarm and crisis.
The
Second World War gave birth to the European Union. But for me, 1989
is the key date, when Europe tore down the Iron Curtain and came
together. Democratic nations working together across our continent.
How
out of touch the EU has become. It’s the pointless interference,
rules and regulations that stifles growth. There is a real sense that
the EU is somehow an abstract end in itself, immune from developments
in the real world.
It
does not have to be like this. Out of crisis can come opportunity if
Member States are ready to grasp it. Now is the chance to ask: what
kind of Europe do we actually want. The answer is clear.
One
with the flexibility of a network, (Confederate Nations of Europe)
not the rigidity of a bloc (Federal Nations of Europe)......... whose
institutions help by strengthening its members to thrive in a vibrant
world, rather than holding them back.” …..dispatches
ends......
Two
Leaders. Two options. One solution. A two way Europe working in
tandem. A choice and means to full fill destiny. The ultimate goal is
unity but unity can come in different arrangements. A forced marriage
is no marriage as we know too well.
It
is time to ask the people in April 2012...what kind of Europe do you
want. You have the choice to join either option according to your
convictions. A Confederate Network or A Federal Union with a means to
opt in and out in future elections. The step must come from Berlin
with London's support if we all are to make a giant leap for Europe.
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