Resistance, struggle and rupture with the policies promoting a fully militarized and neoliberal EU

Artıcle by Neoklis Sylikiotis, AKEL Political Bureau member, MEP and Vice-President of GUE/NGL

18th September 2016

On 14th September from the official podium of the plenary of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, the President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker admitted the reality. He acknowledged the deepening of the crisis with its devastating consequences for the peoples. He said that there are serious deficits and shortcomings in the EU. He talked about an existential crisis. He declared that the unemployment rates, particularly among young people, are alarmingly high. He admitted that Europe is not social enough in character. He also talked about the young generation, which has been condemned to live in greater poverty than that experienced by their parents. Furthermore, he stressed that Europe should not become the wild west of social dumping.

However, the peoples need concrete proposals for an exit from the crisis, something that Juncker failed to propose. Both the European Commission and the major political groups in the European Parliament, namely the European People’s Party (EPP) and the Social Democrats, confirmed  during the debate their insistence on deepening the neoliberal policies that have led to the current crisis. They both continue to support the Stability Pact and seek the implementation of the five Presidents Report on the acceleration of the EU’s economic and fiscal union. As a matter of fact,  Juncker himself underlined that he will not permit the Stability Pact to become a Pact of Flexibility..

Instead of proposing measures to boost and give an impetus to the real economy and public investment in order to create new quality jobs, Mr. Juncker announced that he will double the investment package to 630 billion Euros by 2022. However, as it has been proven the investment package is based on private investment, aiming to reduce the risk for private capital and in no way does it ensure that countries in real need will be given support. The same hypocritical policy is also being promoted with regards third countries. Juncker supposedly announced 44 billion Euros for Africa and neighboring countries, but will still rely on private investments.

Concerning workimg people’s rights, Mr. Juncker correctly said that working people should be paid the same for the same work in each country. However, it is his own political group in the European Parliament, that is to say the EPP, which just a day before had voted against this position in a Report on worker’s rights.

The only comprehensive proposal tabled by Juncker was for the further militarisation of the EU.

Its as if the wars being waged so far, the foreign interventions, the bloodyslaughter of the peoples and the mass flow of refugees are not enough for them.  Juncker declared that the goal is the creation of permanent military structures, a permanent military staff headquarters and of a “European Fund for Defense” to strengthen the military and arms industry. He stressed in particular the need for cooperation with NATO and the development of complementary action. Unfortunately, not only do they not regret the support they have been giving so far to the imperialist plans of NATO and the US, not only have they not assumed their responsibilities for the humanitarian crisis, but they also have the nerve and audacity to ask for the EU’s greater involvement in wars and common path and full alignment with the NATO.

With their policies they have condemned thousands of people to flee their own countries as refugees. And now Juncker is today calling on volunteers to show solidarity to the refugees. But how can there be solidarity when the European Commission is confirming that the EU policy remains the increase in the number of border guards, the strengthening of FRONTEX and the creation of new electric fences at the borders in the direction of a fortress Europe? How can thjere be solidarity when due to the failure of the management of the refugee crisis xenophobia and racism are becoming stronger every day?

 To have hope for an exit from the crisis and a prospect for a better tomorrow, its not enough to describe reality. What is needed is the waging of struggles to change this reality. You need to defeat and reverse the policies that have led to the growing inequalities, the deregulation of labour relations, the dismantling of the welfare state, the sell-off of public wealth and property, mass unemployment and the impoverishment of the peoples.

Their plans are very clear: a fully militarized and neoliberal Europe. This will be the future of the peoples if there is no resistance and a rupture with their policies.