السياسة الأوروبية تتأثر بالخروج البريطاني

Oct 31, 2018 Guy Verhofstadt

بروكسل ــ بعيدا عن تسوية مسألة مستقبل المملكة المتحدة، تسبب الاستفتاء على خروج بريطانيا من الاتحاد الأوروبي في عام 2016 والمفاوضات التي أعقبته مع الاتحاد في إشعال شرارة أزمة هوية وحرب ثقافية شاملة في بريطانيا. وبعد مرور عامين منذ صوت الناخبون في المملكة المتحدة بنسبة 52% إلى 48% لصالح الانسحاب من الاتحاد الأوروبي، بات من المأمون أن نقول إن الحيلة التي لجأ إليها رئيس الوزراء السابق ديفيد كاميرون لتسوية مناقشة دارت لفترة طويلة داخل أروقة حزب المحافظين أدت إلى نتائج عكسية بامتياز.

فبفضل قرار الخروج أصبحت الحياة السياسية والاجتماعية في بريطانيا أكثر انقساما من أي وقت مضى. وفي حين يروج أنصار الخروج لخطاب داع للفُرقة على نحو متزايد ــ وعنيف في بعض الأحيان ــ نظم مئات الآلاف من "أنصار البقاء" مؤخرا مسيرة حاشدة عبر مدينة لندن، داعين إلى "تصويت شعبي" للموافقة على اتفاق الخروج الذي تقترحه الحكومة.

وفقا لتقرير جديد صادر عن المركز الوطني للبحوث الاجتماعية في المملكة المتحدة، أصبح دعم أو معارضة خروج بريطانيا من الاتحاد الأوروبي بديلا للانتماء الحزبي بوصفه العامِل المحدد للهويات السياسية في بريطانيا. وعلى وجه التحديد، وجد الباحثون أن ما يقرب من تسعة من كل عشرة أعضاء في فريقنا قالوا إنهم إما يناصرون "البقاء" أو "الخروج"، في حين زعم أقل من ثلثيهم أنهم ينتمون إلى حزب سياسي.

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Breaking the Brexit Stalemate
CHRISTOPHER FURLONG/AFP/Getty Images

Breaking the Brexit Stalemate

Guy Verhofstadt proposes a flexible association-agreement model to settle the remaining issues between the UK and the EU.

5
Drain the EU Swamp
DANNY GYS/AFP/Getty Images

Drain the EU Swamp

Guy Verhofstadt observes that Central and Eastern Europe's populist governments rank among the European Union's most corrupt.

18
How to Resolve Europe’s Political Crisis Over Migration
BULENT KILIC/AFP/Getty Images

How to Resolve Europe’s Political Crisis Over Migration

Guy Verhofstadt thinks any alternative to a common system for managing inflows would be ineffective, if not dangerous.

24
The End of Germany’s Two-Party System
Michele Tantussi/Getty Images

The End of Germany’s Two-Party System

Sławomir Sierakowski thinks the Social Democrats' dismal performance in Bavaria marks the end of an era in the country's politics.

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j. von Hettlingen Nov 6, 2018

Guy Verhofstadt highlights the impact Britain’s 2016 EU referendum has on Europe, citing the “Brexitization” of politics on both sides of the Channel. While Brexit has plunged Britain into a shambolic mess, dividing the country into two camps, with both Leavers and Remainers being “emotionally” attached to their cause, the rest of the EU has made a credible stab at pulling itself together. And it has galvanised public support for the European project.
Brexit has polarised Britain. However, the social divisions, class inequalities, generation war, education gap and demographic divide had been swept under the rug by successive Tory governments, and they have just been laid bare by the Brexit vote. What is ironic is that Britain is now “home to one of the largest grassroots pro-EU movements in Europe.” Should Britain leave the EU with or without a deal, the debate about its future relationship with the EU will not go away,
Britain’s young people are the most pro-European generation – open-minded and internationalist. They travel, work, and study abroad to a greater degree than previous generations. They focus more on global issues, such as social justice, climate change and global development. Despite insecurity, they remain optimistic, and see leaving the EU as a fundamental threat to their values and opportunites. They believe the EU helps provide for decent, well-paid jobs, after leaving colleges or universities.
The author says pro-EU sentiments have risen across Europe following Brexit. The Eurosceptic populist party, Sweden Democrats, which had made “significant gains” in Sweden’s general election in September, have backtracked on their call for a “Swexit.” During the campaign, they vowed to take Sweden out of the EU. But they sensed opposition from many Swedes, and they have been routed by “more moderate parties.”
Leader of Italy’s populist party, Matteo Salvini, has often lashed out at the EU. But the controversial interior minister has abandoned his plan of an Italexit. Instead, the right-wing politician pledged to keep Italy inside the EU and change the bloc from within. Seeking to portray himself Europe’s saviour, alongside other European allies like Hungary, Austria and Poland, Salvini claimed that history would be kind to him.
In order to maintain a good relationship with Britain, the author proposes a close but flexible “association agreement” that aims to facilitate cross-border cooperation etc. He urges “centrists, liberals, and democrats” to do “more” than defending the “status quo” if they want to defeat populist parties. To begin with, they must protect public interests by rejecting populists’ policies that revolve mainlay around “their narrow personal and political interests.” Next year’s elections are crucial, because it will offer mainstream parties on the left and right an opportunity to curb the rising influence of far-right populists in the European Parliament.
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Peter Schaeffer Nov 1, 2018

So the Mayor of Molenbeek wants to tell us how wonderful 'Europe' is. That's true for the privileged elite. If live in a gated community and send your children (if you have any children) to a posh private school, life is great. As for everyone else, they are just the 'deplorables' aren't they? The 'bitter people' who can (and indeed must) be ignored.
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Prashant Kotak Oct 31, 2018

"...a painful divorce process seem to have raised awareness about the benefits of EU membership..."

A model of coercion the Cosa Nostra would be well familiar with no doubt.
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السياسة الأوروبية تتأثر بالخروج البريطاني

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Breaking the Brexit Stalemate

Drain the EU Swamp

How to Resolve Europe’s Political Crisis Over Migration

The End of Germany’s Two-Party System

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