Beware the Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing

Newly re-elected French President Emmanuel Macron floated on Monday the idea of a new type of "political European community" that would include countries outside the European Union, such as Ukraine and Britain, so they could join others with "European core values."

Speaking to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Macron said his re-election last month was a signal that the French had wanted more Europe. In truth, it was a rejection of Marine Le Pen and her nationalistic, but far-left socialism. His excuse was that Ukraine's desire to join the bloc would take years and the beleaguered country needed to be given some hope in the short-term.

The French President announced, "Ukraine by its fight and its courage is already a heartfelt member of our Europe, of our family, of our union.

"Even if we grant it candidate status tomorrow, we all know perfectly well that the process to allow it to join would take several years indeed, probably several decades."

Presumably he hoped that by calling it something different, (Maybe he should try the European Economic Community? – after all it worked in the 1970’s to tempt the United Kingdom).

"Joining it would not necessarily prejudge future EU membership," he said. "Nor would it be closed to those who left it."

Those of us old enough to remember have seen this time and again. Innocent -sounding organisations with hidden intent and ideas rejected by the populace have been redressed and introduced anyway. For whatever the beginnings of this looser group of European nations, it is almost certain that the phrase “Ever closer union” will crop up again in the future.

This party rejected the European Union as it will reject any new tier of government. We do not want to see it reintroduced via the back door. This is a dangerous path, which would place this community’s border immediately up against the increasingly unpredictable Putin. It must be rejected forthwith.

Martin Day – Party Secretary