Voters believe in a sovereign Europe more than elites

15 comments

1. They will do the right thing eventually!

2. “The truth is, when it comes to EU integration, most centrist politicians are still driven by fear of the far right. They don’t seem to have fully grasped that the game has changed — for everyone.

   […]

   According to a Eurobarometer survey from this spring, 81 percent of Europeans back a common defense and security policy, with only 15 percent opposing it

   […]

   Who would have thought that defense — which lies at the core of national sovereignty — might be the integration catalyst for bottom-up change? But with 74 percent positive approval, public support for the EU is at a record high right now.
   So, when will politicians start capitalizing on it?”

   ***
   Good article. And a very strange situation: the current politicians have probably the best possible cards ever to significantly strengthen and integrate EU defense, and even create an EU Army – there may never be quite as much support for it and leniency from voters to have their taxes raised etc to have this unified strength. And yet, they’re not *using* that support for whatever stupid reason, such as the populist parties, which makes them seem ineffective, which only strengthens support for the populist parties. Ajajai.

3. Ask them how willing they would be to actually fight for their sovereignty. The percentage will likely vary from high 20s in the east to single digits in the far west.

4. Tell those voters their taxes will increase to finance such sovereignty and watch their support evaporate.

5. the masses have always been ignorant of political reality

6. Elites think more about their money’s sovereignty more than the European’s one

7. It’s not on elites interest since it could end all tax heavens inside EU

8. The reality is that apart from the economic aspect there was no plan for the so called United States of Europe.

9. It’s a bit misleading. People being behind joint defense does not equate to people supporting a politically stronger EU.

   I’m all for deeply integrating the EU militaries (and sharing the load more evenly). That doesn’t mean I want some elites in brussels drafting authoritarian laws and forcing them down my throat, nor would I ever support relinquishing any sort of power from my proudly democratic nation to the shady mess that is the EU. Massive reforms would be needed before I personally even gave it a chance. But military matters are a different matter entirely.

10. For many years now, it has been increasingly obvious to me that it’s no longer the populace standing in the way of EU reforms. Most people are not rabid nationalists but expect a functioning government that tends to their needs. Most people are keenly aware that a capable EU is indispensable for maintaining our sovereignty, prosperity, and way of life.

    It’s rather national institutions and their leaders who are unwilling to give up any of their power or are beholden to other narrow interest groups. They are the ones standing in the way of such a capable Europe. They are not doing their job of serving their people, but rather bogging down Europe in endless institutional gridlock.

11. This article is pretty bullshit considering the main supporters of far right parties are the elites

12. Integrated European defense policy sounds awesome (and in fact, is awesome and really needed like 15 years ago). How much anyone wants to bet that it will take less than 2 years before at least 1/3 of the members will fail to meet their spending commitment, and will just leach on the other countries to make up for the gap? Sounds familiar?

13. Powerful sovereign Europe is possible. Our politicians are not able to create an environment good for our development.

    Digital infrastructure, chip making, rare earth mines, and drones should be one of the focus points.

    We could easily build up hospital infrastructure for the Ukrainian army with EU personnel enhanced by ex. Indian and Pakistani doctors paid by EU in humanitarian effort.

    We can send hundreds of soldiers from the whole EU militaries on vacation in a Ukraine each quarter.

    Invest in more military production and buying EU military platforms for Ukraine.

    We could gather data from the Ukraine and organise military technical committees that would think what equipment and in which quantities is needed for the Ukraine and for EU for war with Russia in a few years

    We need a lot of energy and fast. Maybe curbing co2 should be a bit slowed to keep more factories in EU. What good does it do if factories just move to China and Vietnam?

    This is all possible. We could start doing one thing of these first

14. All regular people in the EU should be pushing for a more integrated EU. Your billionaires have literally sold you out because they will take their capital and sell out to the US the moment your union collapses

15. Voters are idiots and don’t understand that access to resources/energy determines sovereignty.

    They can believe in what they want.

    >But today, while elites hesitate, it is voters who are demanding more Europe — at least when it comes to defense

    good luck with that

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