The Day of Europe

It is Saturday Night Live. It is also The Day of Europe. Margot Wallström, our swedish commissioner, tells us on DN.se to vote for the EU parliament no matter what. It doesn't matter which party. Just vote. Sounds a little desperate but I learn on the program Lördagsintervjun at public radio program 1 that her results on the job as commissioner hasn't been that good. She is tired and wants out of the lime light. Talks about cleaning out wardrobes and getting a hunting licence instead.

However, I defended Wallström the other day. Her enemies claimed the Irish referendum was democracy when parliament votes of all other countries were not. Charlemagne of The Ecomomist and Dick Erixon claims the EU parliament has no legitimacy. What I don't understand is what would be better democracy without one language that would allow direct voting of all countries. I still think the EU is on track and hope the Lisbon Treaty will eventually be ratified. Then the next step might give democracy eventually. Its all about steps. EU is about getting used to the idea of a unified Europe. Generation by generation. On the global arena EU would be important.

Charlemagne mentioned an interesting thing though. Someone had likened the EU parliament with an NGO. It is apparently considered so detached from governmental function by some. I agree that they are voicing their concern in questions that they shouldn't. Like foreign policy. Some MEPs tries to talk to Hamas. After the Lisbon Treaty comes perhaps a time when foreign policy of the EU can be more assertive.

Then there is the enlargement issue. Angela Merkel doesn't want to enlarge much more. I agree. There comes a point where someone must say stop and the Alexander the Great demon of EU must die. I have no idea why the Swedes insist on further enlargement. 495m is more than enough. People are saying the US might break up and they are only 300m. Perhaps some people dream of a unit approaching that of China including Turkey, Ukraine and Russia? If 495m is a miracle, 800m would be divine. I thought for a while that Russia could be the Texas of Europe but my analysis so far would place them apart. I view it the other way around. We are 800m with the US.