The following article is an
interview by RT with Mark Bergfeld, a Liberal pro-EU journalist.
‘EU at high risk of
fragmenting after Brexit, Austria could be next’, 7/4/16
Far-right parties across Europe are
trying to gain a greater level of federalism and autonomy inside of the EU by
putting a referendum on the agenda, as it would give them leverage against
Germany, says political writer and journalist Mark Bergfeld.
Speculation has begun that the EU
could have a second departure on its hands with the media saying Austria will
follow Britain's lead. That is as the far-right Austrian presidential
candidate, who lost in May's election, has been given a second chance after the
country's top court overturned the result. Read more
Recently the president of the Czech
Republic said he wants to follow the same approach. Milosh Zeman says that he
is personally against leaving the EU, but would do everything to allow people
to express their will.
A survey by the European Council on
Foreign Relations said that Brexit could start a political tsunami with
referendums being used as a way to challenge established parties on issues such
as EU membership and migration.
RT: Critics say
the presidential re-run in Austria could be another blow for the EU. Do you
agree?
Mark
Bergfeld: The EU is at high risk of
fragmenting after the Brexit vote. It is clear that Austria is a high-risk
country potentially leaving the EU, given that it didn’t follow Merkel’s course
in summer 2015 when the Schengen and Dublin agreement were defunct and it
closed its borders unilaterally. With the re-run we will see whether this will
become another topic – Austria potentially leaving the European Union.
RT: If the
far-right candidate Norbert Hofer wins in September, what's next for Austria
and Europe as a whole?
MB: I think that Hofer, who is on the very far-right, who has
launched his campaign against Muslims, who has launched his main party platform
against immigrants, is very unlikely to win these elections, to begin with, I
think that many people in Austria were very shocked by the initial result that
we have seen where he came very close to beating the Green Party candidate.
What we will see is that a lot of
people will unite behind the Green Party candidate instead of Hofer because it
came as a real shock to Austria. And what effectively threatened their position
inside of Europe as well. I think the Austrians are very well aware of the fact
that electing someone like Hofer would damage the country’s reputation,
especially their tourism, and also their close relationship with Germany.
RT: Hofer
himself says he doesn't want to leave the Union, but he wants it reformed. How
realistic is that?
MB: I think there are two tendencies at this moment in time to
see the future of the EU. On the one hand, we can see how continuing crisis
throughout the European Union has led to a greater degree of centralism. So, if
you look at the Greek crisis as well as the border crisis, you see how it led
to greater integration of the different European states into the European
framework. What you also can see on the other hand is greater calls for
federalism inside of the EU. And so what Hofer effectively is trying to do and
what the right-wing parties across Europe are trying to do at this moment in
time is trying to attain a greater level of federalism and autonomy inside of
the framework of EU by putting referendum on the cards because it would give
them greater leverage against the German superpower inside of Europe.
RT: A survey by
the European Council on Foreign Relations says alternative parties across
Europe are calling for dozens of referendums. Will Brussels take notice of
this?
MB: I personally believe that there is a lot to criticize
about the EU. First of all, the very fact that it is a neoliberal institution
and a neo-liberal framework which does not allow for progressive economic
policies that benefit the vast majority of people. We can criticize it for its
bureaucracy and its unaccountability as well. And so the far-right and the
right-wing and the euro-sceptics are using these arguments time and again. What
they aren’t effectively doing is representing the very people they claim to
represent.
So, if you look at the funding they
receive, at the way they are backing up big businesses doesn’t chime with the
kind of rhetoric that they are putting forward. Brussels, in effect,
constitutes itself out of its different membership states. And because the
membership states are stronger together against the US as well as against the
new BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China), will continue to remain
inside of the EU and Brussels will adapt according to the political pressure
coming from its member states.
The
statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the
author and do not necessarily represent those of RT.
Comments
I would
think that tourists would visit whatever European country doesn’t have
Muslims. The EU is an unnecessary and
dangerous extension of UN aggression.
Norb
Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader
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