Written by Ben Habib
This article was first published in ‘Brexit Central’ and we re-publish with their kind permission.
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Until now I had, admittedly unthinkingly, laboured under the illusion that, whatever its failings as an institution, the EU is part of the fabric of liberal western democracies. I had always known that, in itself, it is not democratic. However, I had not properly recognised that it is actually anti-democratic.
Yes, it makes a big song and dance about the importance of democracy, even taking steps to sanction member states that are not acting “democratically”, but do not be fooled by this. It is on an inexorable path towards stripping its member states of self-determination and concentrating power in its own hands. Far from being part of the fabric of liberal western democracies, it is a threat to that fabric. It was this realisation that sickened me.
There are many examples of its anti-democratic behaviour, but none could be better than the great lengths to which it has gone to coerce its members into remaining within its net. The euro was created and launched primarily for this purpose. This was not properly appreciated back in 1999, but the Greeks and Italians (amongst others) are now acutely aware of how that currency has worked to trap them in the EU against their will.
And, of course, most recently, even though the UK is thankfully not part of the currency, the EU has gone into overdrive in its attempts to frustrate Brexit, the biggest democratic mandate ever given to a British government.
Coupled with its anti-democratic power grab is a move towards creating its own fighting force. Contrary to all protestations that it does not seek an army, the draft budget for the 2021/27 period includes a staggering €34 billion for the establishment of a 10,000-strong force, taking steps to protect EU interests (including the European way of life – whatever that is) and weapons development, both cyber and conventional.
Moreover, via the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) that it established in December 2017, it has created a European-wide joint military capability under EU command. There can be no doubt that, given the EU’s increasingly anti-US rhetoric, PESCO stands as an eventual replacement for NATO.
Alongside its drive to strip its member states of self-determination, its anti-democratic behaviour and the creation of its own fighting force, is Guy Verhofstadt’s recent declaration that the EU is on its way to becoming an Empire.
In view of all of the above, should we ever succeed in Brexiting, we must be suspicious and vigilant of EU actions. The UK should certainly not be signing up to PESCO, which Theresa May’s Withdrawal Agreement and Political Declaration would have done.
Indeed, we should be circumspect about any form of joint security or information sharing with the EU. It is quite possible that, in a post-Brexit world, the UK would find itself having to challenge the anti-democratic EU in more than just trade and commerce.
There is no doubt that the UK is firmly part of the fabric of liberal western democracies – let’s keep it that way.
Ben Habib was elected a Brexit Party MEP for London at the 2019 European Parliament election.
Another interesting interview from Freenations on the “sinister roots of the EU”:
http://freenations.net/fascist-europe-today-my-interview-on-unity-news-network/
The EU would be better known as the Fourth Reich. It has virtually succeeded in doing by stealth what the previous Reichs failed to do by force. Make no mistake, it is run from Berlin, not Brussels.
Every Reich needs an army…..for the suppression of internal dissent.
It needs fast transport to move this army (HS2).
HS2 was manifestly non-viable as a commercial concern from the day of conception.
There are other “failed” HS rail projects elsewhere in the EU. But they were never intended to make money.
And did you know we have a European Police Union?
http://www.europeanpoliceunion.eu/
Softly, softly catchee monkey.
Veteran soldier, Simon Bean MBE, has some chilling predictions on youtube. Many years ago, we went to Cambridge to hear Russian dissident, Vladimir Bukovsky speak. Has salutary words were “I have seen your future”.
PLEASE, Mr Habib!!! Don’t let’s be mealy-mouthed about this. The European Union is not just undemocratic or anti-democratic, it is a Dictatorship and should be named so from now onwards. It is not YET a one-man or one-woman Dictatorship, but it IS a Group Dictatorship, the Group being the Commissioners, and for one I don’t want my children and grandchildren to live under any kind of Dictatorship and can’t understand why Remainers are happy to let this happen to their families.
Does anyone know of a study into what motivated Remain voters ? I suspect a lot of it was just risk aversion. I also, happily, suspect that a good few Remainers accepted the result and that if there were a repeat referendum (i.e. same question) they would at least abstain.
I’m afraid that there is a lot of guff spoken regarding the ‘EU Army’ ‘Pesco’ and NATO.
It is NATO that has been the structure and force that has guaranteed peace in Europe since the beginning of the Cold War and there is no way, without defence spending and rearming on a scale that would make eyes water across Europe, that the EU can hope to replace the huge resources provided by the USA. The USA spends more that the whole of the EU on defence and the very, very last thing either the EU or the UK needs is to hack off the Americans.
We have already seen the start of what happens next as the US pulled its forces out of Syria. Nature abhors a vacuum. Without the American deterrent and combined with an increasingly insular American administration unprepared to fight for obscure Eastern European territories there is NOTHING that could stop the Russian Federation annexing East Ukraine and the Baltic states of Estonia Latvia and Lithuania should it choose to do so . Russia respects for now that the US is de facto the lead player in NATO and understands US power , but Russia will NEVER tolerate an EU Army or Alliance dominated by Germany . It simply will not be tolerated to have German led EU troops or Germans anywhere near the Russian border.
There is also a flaw in supposing that Britons will readily work within an EU Army structure. I cannot see British officers and men rescinding their oath of loyalty to the Crown and handing it to Heinrich Von Kraut or whoever the unelected and unaccountable EU president might be. It’s difficult finding adequate results now, within an EU Army, forget it.
Neither will the British electorate take it lightly. It will blow up in the face of any government that dares to emasculate our independent armed forces, without which we truly are a vassal state.
What armed services Mr.Bav?
Army little better than a militia.
Airforce down to the Red Arrows and the last few Spitfires.
The Navy – well let`s just say I have a sinking feeling
Defence has been purposely run down for years I believe because “they” don`t believe the best means off defence is always(well primarily anyway) attack and if you are committed to attack, you must have “back up) for at least Plan B. and for what bits of the services we have left I understand we have acute recruiting difficulties.
Good article, especially the mention of PESCO which most people are ignorant of. Let us remember that the nature of our traditional enemies across the Channel, now known as the EU, has not changed.
Our politicians would do well to remember the tale of the scorpion and the frog.