Brussels, Belgium
jwhitneyrood@yahoo.com
Despite the numerous internal challenges and divisions, the European Union has succeeded during its 50-year history to gain enormous influence worldwide. Yet, the European Union, via its headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, has been relentless in domineering its 27-member nations while pursuing its aspiration to be the dominate voice on the world stage.
To what end is this incessant push leading? Why is the EU bent on gaining worldwide position? If it is truly for the benefit of EU citizens, then why are their votes disregarded?
Meanwhile, the United States population remains generally uninformed concerning the complex operation of the European Union and its growing worldwide influence. Unless you actively seek information you will find little news in traditional media. Major bookstores will often have no titles on the EU, even if you check the Current Events, Political Science or European History sections. It would also be beneficial for Christian leaders to “step out of the box” and gain knowledge and awareness of the European Union background and its future aspirations.
Today’s European Union is the initial stage of the Revived Roman Empire mentioned in Daniel and the Book of Revelation. The final form will be a 10-nation confederation ruled by the Antichrist. Instead of surmising as to the composition of the eventual 10 nations, the identification of the superstate trends that will lead to a dictatorial system is open before us.
Political Union is “Full Steam Ahead” Despite the Identity Crisis and Lack of Democracy
The EU has pumped countless billions of euros into its development programs, and its staff in Brussels alone is over 20,000 workers. Nevertheless, the EU has always faced an uphill struggle for one simple reason; the people of Europe overall do not want a centralized European political and economic force dictating their national policies.
In the rare times that citizens were allowed to vote in member nation referendums, the answer has been a clear “No” to the EU treaties. Several times the “No” vote has been cleverly disregarded or rectified through further voting until the people “get it right.”
Without a doubt, the EU is clearly a non-democratic system. The European Commission and Council are appointed and only the European Parliament members are elected by national voting. The Parliament is by far the weakest body and has few actual legislative powers; their decisions are formally recognized by the Commission as “opinions.”
The story of the growing EU influence over its member nations is based on a well-formed and strategic plan. The progression, which results in the loss of the sovereignty of member nations, is legally based on each successive EU treaty. The “open borders” and “free-trade zone” of the early 1990s led to currency union for the founding members of the eurozone after the year 2000. The goal now is complete political union, and this objective is quite advanced in many aspects.
In order to join the EU, a nation agrees to conform to a document of rules that is more than 90,000 pages long! And that is only the beginning of the endless bureaucracy. The treaties provide the framework for many thousands of laws, regulations and directives. The EU touches every operation of its member nations and the total fabric of society.
The judicial system has also been centralized. It has already been determined that if there is ever a conflict between a national law and an EU law, the EU law is preponderant.
Euro Empire Influence
The euro currency is now the official currency of 16 EU nations. But its influence goes way beyond the eurozone; more than 50 nations and territories currently use the euro, must use the euro when they meet the entry criteria or the European Central Bank directly influences their monetary policy! I refer to this as the “Euro Empire.”
The eurozone is the world’s second largest economy. The euro is the world’s second largest reserve currency.
One clear pattern has been that economic union proceeds political union. Once the monetary system is unified, political integration can follow much easier.
Brussels, Capital of the Free World?
US Vice-President Joe Biden addressed the European Parliament in May, 2010 and referred to Brussels as worthy to claim the title of “Capital of the Free World”:
“As you probably know, some American politicians and American journalists refer to Washington, DC as the ‘capital of the free world.’ But it seems to me that this great city, which boasts 1,000 years of history and which serves as the capital of Belgium, the home of the European Union, and the headquarters for NATO, this city has its own legitimate claim to that title.”
(VP Biden also added to the Parliament, “And now under the Lisbon Treaty, you’ve taken on more powers and a broader responsibility that comes with that increased influence. And we welcome it.”)
This statement is completely incredulous; the EU does not operate by democratic principles and repeatedly disregards democracy by its inherent “top-down” structure. The people of Europe consistently come up last in terms of any influence within the system. How can Brussels be referred to as “Capital of the Free World”?
The European influence on the United States has resulted in a certain “Europeanization” of the United States (but that will be the subject of another article).
The Lisbon Treaty Creates the EU President and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs
The latest stronghold of EU dominance is the Lisbon Treaty, which is essentially the same document as the rejected EU Constitution (the name “Constitution” was removed!). The Lisbon Treaty has been ratified and is in effect since December, 2009.
The Lisbon Treaty includes a clause which permits the European Heads of State to change any aspect of the Treaty, without any national referendums or approval of national parliaments. This puts an end to any EU matter ever being put to a vote of the people of any individual nations! Democracy has been completely thrown out of the EU concerning constitutional issues.
The Lisbon Treaty created the position of “EU President,” which is now held by Herman Van Rompuy. In addition, the Treaty created the position of “EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,” which can be equated to an EU Foreign Minister. This position is now held by Baroness Catherine Ashton.
Both Mr. Van Rompuy and Mrs. Ashton were perceived as virtual nobodies in EU politics before these appointments. But the EU way of change is to first prove something is broken and then to fix it… so we can expect dramatic changes concerning the new positions. Do not be lulled by these seeming innocuous personalities. The Treaty allows enormous power to these positions and the actual boundaries of their authority has not been tested. (There is not even a job description for the EU President!)
One EU Parliament member, Nigel Farage, addressed and chastised the new EU President directly in February, 2010, "I have no doubt that your intention is to be the quiet assassin of European democracy and of European nation states…. I can speak on behalf of the majority of British people in saying that we don't know you, we don't want you, and the sooner you are put out to grass, the better." (He was held “in contempt” by the EU President and fined.)
European Union Embassies Now Being Created
Catherine Ashton, as EU foreign policy chief, leads the new European External Action Service (EEAS) which creates EU embassies worldwide. The EEAS is headquartered in the “Triangle” building in Brussels, analogous to the Pentagon, and heads the EU foreign ministry and diplomatic corps. Foreign policy is created by the Foreign Affairs Council, chaired by Ms. Ashton, and which consists mainly of the Foreign Ministers of the member nations. The European Commission’s 136 foreign delegations are already being renamed EU Embassies and are authorized to speak on behalf of all 27 member nations!
The entire transition has been with some confusion. The cover story of ESharp magazine’s May 2010 issue, “Diplomacy EU-Style,” speaks of infighting and disenchantment, and ayatollahs from the Commission. In any case, the EU institutions are busy disagreeing with each other.
First Ever European Union “State of the Union” Speech
One interesting development is the first “State of the Union” address given by Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso on September 7th, 2010. It was a surprise that the Commission President delivered the speech and not the new “EU President” Van Rompuy. Then members of the Parliament were threatened with fines if they were not present during the speech.
The speech did not focus much on achievements; accept that the euro had survived the crisis. It did introduce perhaps 20 initiatives and new projects, and was very repetitive on how the EU is working on behalf of its citizens. In actuality, the Commission President was asking for new powers and begging for the support of the Parliament to accept the new motions.
One of the five major challenges outlined in the speech is “pulling our weight on the global stage.” It is all about global influence, and at the same time, neglects the desires of the European population.
Only in September 2010 was the existence made known of a secret European task force to assure that none of the 16 eurozone nations would default. The group was so secret it was called, “the group that doesn’t exist.” This was another peculiar means to deal with a problem obvious to all. Eventually, several hundred billion euros was given in loans and placed in stabilization funds.
The “iron and clay” characteristics continue to build and bring dramatic changes. There are enormous pressures in the EU government and many cracks are beginning to show. For now, power struggles and disagreements are the standard operating procedure for Brussels.
All of these actions by the EU supranational government are now bringing Europe to a post-democratic period. That alone should be reason for great concern. I encourage you to be prayerful for today’s European Union, there is still much work to be done for the Lord!
By Bettie Colson
