Das Europäische in den Vordergrund rücken

"Published by the European Society Coudenhove-Kalergi, Secretary General Heinmz Wimpissinger"

To Put Forward the European Qualities

Karl Habsburg, President of the Pan Europe Austria Movement and

President of "Blue Shield"

European integration is so obvious 20 years after the entry of Austria, Finland and Sweden into the European Union that the criticism of European politics (often with good cause) as well as the criticism of national policy usually about the political dominated discussions (not just the famous Round Table) stands out. The problem is that the European idea was lost by the political "elite".

A quick glance at the Pan-Europe concept by Richard Coudenhove-Kalergi would sharpen the sense of this "European feeling" again. To him it was not only about preventing another devastating war, but also the restoration of order in Europe and Europe's return to the stage of world politics. He wanted to prevent that this continent is at the mercy of non-European powers. This requires the development of an independent European foreign and security policy.

Despite high levels of public debt in almost all countries of the EU (and European non-EU countries) Europe is still a rich continent with high potential. At the same time, Europe is weak. Apart from the UK and France who still have small deployable troops, there is no army in Europe that could deal with a military crisis. Significant, but barely noticed is also a small detail in the new EU Commission. So far, the first Vice-President of the Commission was always also in charge of foreign affairs. Now it is the one responsible for economic policy. This might seem logical considering the so-called Euro-crisis (which in reality is a deep identity crisis of Europe), but it is a false conclusion. The economic recovery of Europe, the re-industrialization of Europe, does not need political sympathy any longer but a return to the economic freedom that existed in Germany under Ludwig Erhard and which led to the so-called economic miracle in Austria through the Raab-Kamitz course.

In foreign and security policy, in the face of Russian aggression against Ukraine, Europe is still at the point it was at 20 years ago when facing Serbian aggression against neighbours.

The concentration of European policy in recent years on unpopular bailouts and perceived as patronizing regulations, has created an atmosphere, that seeks outdated recipes such as socialism and nationalism, misinterpreted as solutions. In reality this opens up ideas that contradict Europe’s power politics.

The absurdity of this development is shown in the "strategy" of so-called nationalist, “Europe critical” parties, that are now seeking their own country’s closer alliance with Russia in order to escape the American interests. How short-sighted this "strategy" is, can be seen by scrutinizing the European dimension. In consequence it is clear, that the rejection of European cooperation in favour of a particular alliance with the big neighbour to the east is a “shot through both knees”. The principle of "divide and rule", which always was given to small nation-states, the role of the governed, seems to be forgotten.

Of course you can also be critical towards NATO. Whoever argues that the former German Foreign Minister Genscher ruled out an expansion of NATO to the East in the discussions on German reunification, forgets two facts. The nations of the former Warsaw Pact have urged NATO to ensure their security needs. Also, no German Foreign Minister can decide over the heads of the countries of Central and Eastern Europe which union they can join. The political concept of an "intermediate Europe" was from the 30s of the last century, the consequences are known.

Europe needs a return to the original Pan-European approach, to the development of a European foreign and security policy worthy of the name, and also a credible military component. Only a credible foreign and security policy can bring the big neighbour in the East to return back to the bottom of the Helsinki Final Act. In it, the signees commit (1975 still clearly communist totalitarian Soviet Union) to recognizing the territorial integrity, freedom and independence of States. In regards to the Ukraine (clearly European), the EU needs to step away from the Neighbourhood Policy (which excludes entry) to a candidate policy.