Callanan: Roll back the frontiers of the EU’s ‘Big government’
Posted, May 09, 2012 @ 18:00
The European Parliament’s political group leaders today held a debate on the ‘Future of Europe’ to mark the anniversary of the signing of the Schuman declaration proposing a supranational community.
European Conservatives and Reformists group leader Martin Callanan MEP said that the EU has failed to move with the times, offering 20th century solutions to 21st century problems. He warned that the EU’s greatest challenge today is to remain relevant in the world, and in the minds of EU voters who the EU has been taking ‘for granted’, and who are turning to ugly extremes.
Callanan warned of the EU’s big government mentality, which believes that only ‘more Europe’ can solve every challenge, makes it part of the problem. He called for the EU to roll back its frontiers.
He said (extracts from the speech):
“The world has moved on since the Schuman declaration was made 62 years ago. In many areas, the EU has not. Many of these 20th century solutions have now become a part of our 21st century problem.
“Our greatest challenge today is to remain relevant. The EU is not only becoming irrelevant in the world, but also in the minds of our own people. I have one simple explanation for this: the people don’t trust the EU because the EU does not trust the people.
“Democracy, the ‘rule of the people’ is the greatest Greek export in history, and it is under threat. The Euro, the fiscal compact, the impositions of the Troika, endless EU legislation, have stopped our electors’ from having the power to determine their own destinies. You cannot go on taking the people for granted. If you do, they will turn to ugly alternatives.
“We feel we have all the answers. But often our well-intentioned actions become part of the problem and lead to less personal or economic freedom for individuals.
“To paraphrase a famous quote of President Reagan: “The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: ‘I’m from the EU and I’m here to help.’”
“I am a firm believer that small government works. When national governments have rolled back the frontiers of the state they have found that their people and their economies thrive.
“The EU has become a big government. It is time we rolled back its frontiers.
“It is not too late to face reality, to trust the people and to embrace small government in Brussels. But time is rapidly running out. Unless you change course, the world will keep turning – and Europe will fall further and further behind. You will have only yourselves to blame.”