Translated “Avante!” article by Ângelo Alves, member of the PCP Political Committee and Member of the International Department
The European Union recent developments, are a proof of the crisis dept and persistence, affecting the whole European continent. A crisis, that is the expression of the capitalism structural crisis deepening in Europe and is, at the same time, a European Union crisis in itself. It ought not be otherwise, as the European Union, holds capitalism general dynamics, in its imperialist phase, and therefore, the deepening of its contradictions and structural crisis.
From the political point of view of the several summits and meetings, which took place upon Great Britain’s referendum – a turmoil of great magnitude within the integration process – three central ideas emerge:
The first is that the deepening of the whole capitalist integration process contradictions, are deepening. A blockade spectrum, not to mention disintegration, is currently part of the European Union political reality; the second, is about the EU leaders’ circle, once again, try to outline a “classical” solution on answering the crisis via a run beyond, that deepens more and more the neoliberal, military and federalist pillars; the third, in connection with the second, is that the contradictions do not permit to advance, for the moment, on that run beyond, concerning the economic and political levels – elections in France and Germany oblige – but regarding the militarist pillar, things are otherwise.
This is exactly what becomes visible from the recent Bratislava Summit (or a non-formal European Council). The meeting, hosting the 27, ignored the very serious economic and social problems that cover Europe, and magisterially ignoring them, designed a “guide” till March 2017, holding structural axes: the European Union militarism development; a emphasis on the Europe fortress concept; the continuity and deepening of the migration criminal policy, namely the humanitarian issue militarization; a number of offensive security measures to democracy and states sovereignty, as the European Coast Guard and Boarders; a greater federalization of the so-called external policy, currently directed towards Africa.
On the “Brexit”, what is currently visible is that before a situation that “the rage of gods” has not fallen upon the British people for having decided to abandon the European Union, the powers and the European institutions directorate are bet on one of two “solutions”: the United Kingdom’s exit is to be an authentic negotiable “inferno”, a kind of “lesson” for others, or instead, in articulation with this objective , to revert the British people will.
The speeches on the need of “re-thinking”, or “refunding” the integration process are totally abandoned, a few months upon the Brexit. The word of order is: keep the direction and deepen the domain mechanisms functioning. The meetings that preceded Bratislava are a proof of that option and the militarist adrift, namely the Athens summit, organized by the Syrisa government in which the Portuguese government participated, an exemplar piece of the social-democracy role within Europe, the real political Syriza government options and the PS compromise with the capitalist integration axes in Europe. A more and more unsustainable compromise that the Portuguese people carry on to be a blackmail, intromission and pressure target from the European Union.
Therefore, one is not surprised when in Bratislava, the Athens conclusions were welcomed by Merkel, Tusk and Juncker, and the “climate” was “constructive” concerning the designed “guide”. The old Brussels consensus operating.
“Saving Europe” is currently a slogan, but as said, to save Europe signifies to defeat the European Union and the consensus, that, although the emergent contradictions seem to take advantage between the right-wing and social democracy.