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Having had time to assimilate the result of the recent UK referendum on leaving the EU a number of thoughts have occurred to me.
It strikes me that there were numerous reasons for people choosing to vote leave, ranging from an understandable complaint that the EU is remote and distant and regulates without giving due credence to national concerns and preferences; through the belief that the EU edifice is undemocratic with the European Commission over reaching its remit, the EU Parliament having insufficient power to amend or reject laws and our own government doing too little to challenge these; or a concern that freedom of movement is over burdening the welfare state and eroding labour standards; to the comparatively small minority of nationalists and racists who see “taking back control” as a way of returning to the England of their reminiscences.
These concerns also need to be considered in conjunction with the wider crisis besetting the EU – the Eurozone/Club Med problems, the refugee crisis, issues with Russia in particular in Ukraine, terrorism and austerity measures. It is not unreasonable to assert that the EU has managed all of these poorly and that his has also compounded concerns in UK voter’s minds as to why they should be in the EU.
It also occurs to me that it is vital, given growing calls for similar referenda in Western Europe, that the EU takes a holistic view of itself and does not use this as another “Project Fear” moment or a chance to punish the UK, a nation the EU political elite have always felt were reluctant Europeans.
Therefore they need to come up with a “new deal” for Europe that includes the UK and its concerns, whether we ultimately stay in the EU or EEA club or not. This deal needs to address the key concerns of not just the UK but all EU member states and needs to consider what level of autonomy/integration is sensible and appropriate. It also needs to re-invigorate the social dimension of the EU much of which has been lost under the welter of directives related to the liberalisation and co-ordination of trade. It is for example worth thinking about why so many citizens from Eastern states have moved to the West; whilst wage disparity is the obvious driver, the lack of prospects and opportunity at home couples with low labour standards and minimal state provision probably plays a much larger role in encouraging the young and mobile to move.
Therefore any new deal has to think about how we encourage enhancement of the latter in the East whilst compensating the West for any additional burden on their state provision.
It is also vital that the whole EU political/policy edifice is overhauled to enshrine democracy at its core; the Council of Ministers needs to become a proper second chamber/senate, perhaps with members being elected by National Parliaments; the EU Parliament given greater powers so they actually make law rather than rubber stamping directives and finally turn the Commission back into a civil service with no power to make or recommend laws.
There are no easy answers; but it is important for all our prosperity and security that the EU finds solutions that address the problems and more pertinently the perceptions ordinary Europeans have of the EU; otherwise it will progressively disintegrate.