I believe that a European army is truly needed. I believe that breaking free from strong external influence, and the strongest single asset anyone has against us is the United States’ military presence and protection guaranteed through NATO, is absolutely crucial. Even though the theme I chose to talk about is military I’m absolutely not a militarist to any degree, I believe in diplomacy even more than I believe in a European Army. A common army, though, is part of Europe’s “National” interest and its creation is one of the fundamental moves to guarantee a prosperous future and a place at the center of history for the continent. It doesn’t have to happen today, but it needs to happen. Many decisions the European Union takes are influenced, if not forced upon us, by the American counterpart. The clearest examples, which are not strictly military, but the military presence guarantees the necessary influence, are the TTIP and the sanctions imposed (and still holding) against Russia. These are two commercial moves, but for as much as we want to be idealists, we all know that at the end of the day what rules the world is money, and this is done through politicians.
Let’s start from the TTIP. Lee Williams on The Independent says: The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership is a series of trade negotiations being carried out mostly in secret between the EU and US. As a bi-lateral trade agreement, TTIP is about reducing the regulatory barriers to trade for big business, things like food safety law, environmental legislation, banking regulations and the sovereign powers of individual nations. It is not Lee Williams’ idea alone. The Green MEPs have denounced the fact that not even members of European Parliament are guaranteed access to the actual treaties but are only shown chosen extracts. What does all this lead to? Bigger profits for mostly American corporations, consumption growth in both EU and US (and a subsequent GDP growth) at the cost of European food and environment security. Who benefits the most here? The EU or the US?