A recent report published by Eurobarometer, the EU’s polling organisation, reveals alarming results as to the degree of confidence that citizent of the six largest member states, namely Germany, France, Britain, Italy, Spain and Poland, have in the European Union.
The most significant drop in trust actually occurred in Spain, with 72 per cent “tending not to trust” the EU and only 20 per cent “tending to trust” it. Three issues may be attributable to such a dwindling of support: the banking and housing market collapse; the Eurozone bailout and runaway unemployment.
It is useless to further consolidate a European Union when the citizens of its member states fear it and its institutions
A ripple effect of the Eurozone bailout and its consequent austerity measures has been the lack of economic growth, with high unemployment rates hitting the debt-stricken countries. No wonder there has also been an upsurge in violent crime.
Such a dismal state of affairs calls for some definitive action to regain lost trust. It is useless to further consolidate an EU when the citizens of its member states fear it and its institutions. There has been a suggestion by the current German Finance Minister, Wolfgang Schauble, of going back to the drawing board and changing the existing EU treaty to incorporate a fiscal union as well.
That would entail ratifying the treaty throughout the member states. Given the current state of apathy where the EU is concerned, such a big overhaul could simply be suicidal.
The European Union through its tripartite institutions, namely, the Parliament, Council and Commission, should be seen to be taking concrete action by setting an example. It does seem rather absurd to ask the man in the street to tighten the belt while the EU does not at the same time try to strike off unnecessary expense.
For instance, many are suggesting calling for a stop to the Strasbourg shuttle. Here, MEPs have to engage in a 10-hour trip from Brussels to Strasbourg, 12 times a year, spending four days there deliberating about new legislation. The Brits are adamant to put an end to this after next year’s MEP election process, which will also see a new European Commission being installed.
All in all, it is estimated that some 56,000 people work for the EU, incurring an estimated administrative cost of about €9 billion every year. Yet, it shouldn’t be just about absolute numbers – there are issues on which the EU has to take immediate action in order to become more effective.
One issue still of concern to us as a nation, given our strategic position in the Mediterranean basin, is irregular immigration.
Major EU players have their own defence capabilities. Surely there can be a concerted effort to have one European army which, while cutting down on duplication of services, can also reach out more effectively in assisting countries like Malta to control their borders.
Notwithstanding the current state of affairs, the EU did quite a lot for its member states during the good times. Now that the going is tough I feel the EU should consider creating some sort of an EU app, reaching out to all citizens on their smart phones, reminding them that they have a decisive role to play in the democratic process the EU boasts so much about. In May 2014 they will have their say!
Ivan Grixti lectures in financial accounting at the University of Malta.