The EU parliament (the supposed democratic heart of the EU) can’t propose its own legislation. It can only approve, reject or make minor adjustments to legislation handed down by the unelected European Commission. The European Commission itself gets its instructions from the “Eurogroup” which consists of a few unelected wealthy finance ministers that offer no transparency of their meetings.

##A “competitive free market economy” is mandatory for EU member states (https://economy-finance.ec.europa.eu/international-economic-relations/candidate-and-neighbouring-countries/enlargement/economic-accession-criteria_en)

##Neoliberal TFEU (Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union) articles:

Article 81 Prohibits government intervention in the economy “which may affect trade between member states”

Article 107 Prohibits state aid to strategic national industries

Article 121 Gives the European Council and European Commission the right to “Formulate … the broad guidelines of the economic policies of the member states and of the union”

Article 126 Regulates the disciplinary measures to be adopted in case of excessive deficit

Article 151 Says that the EU’s Labour and Social Policy shall take account of the need to “Maintain the competitiveness of the union economy”

“There can be no democratic choice against the European treaties”

  • Jean-Claude Juncker (Former president of the European Commission)
  • knfrmity@lemmygrad.mlEnglish
    17·
    25 days ago

    • Some member states have held referendums on proposed EU treaties. The people reject the treaty, yet it is ratified regardless (or renamed/written into other EU legislation).

    • Member states must have a “private option” for health insurance, unless they had a single payer social system before joining the union.

    • Maintains a central bank (ECB) which dictates monetary policy for Euro members supernationally. There can be no sovereign decision making vis a vis currency revaluation or floating of bonds. Economically weaker countries (basically all ex-Germany) are automatically exploited by the stronger countries (Germany) by virtue of having zero monetary sovereignty.

    • The freedom of movement for people (citizens), goods, and most importantly capital locks in unequal exchange between periphery and core, regardless of the currencies in question.

    • Laws ratified by the EU are not laws as such, for the EU doesn’t govern anything directly. Yet EU laws must be implemented in national law very quickly.

    • To pacify France, Strasbourg is part-capital along with Brussels. The entire parliament moves once a month to do their work from Strasbourg for a week, wasting a huge amount of time and resources.

    • 7bicycles [he/him]@hexbear.netEnglish
      5·
      25 days ago

      Laws ratified by the EU are not laws as such, for the EU doesn’t govern anything directly. Yet EU laws must be implemented in national law very quickly.

      There’s both (and some other minor types nobody gives a shit about) - Regulations are immediatly binding when they come into effect, usually they come with some opening clauses so every member state can adopt some regulation to national laws and structure, i.e. most states have one data protection authority and germany has 18.

      Then there’s directives, which must be codified into national law within the given time limit. If they aren’t they also become directly applicable though and the EU will start a breach of contract procedure and eventually fine you per each day you ballsed it.

  • Large Bullfrog@lemmygrad.mlEnglish
    9·
    25 days ago

    Well, I wouldn’t worry too much about lack of government intervention in the EU with how it’s heading. For all the wrong reasons.

  • darkernations@lemmygrad.ml
    82·
    25 days ago

    The EU is a Neoliberal Institution that cannot be reformed

    Apparently they are all brainwashed and once you find the secret sauce to unlock this then the true revolution will begin:

    https://lemmygrad.ml/post/8981815/6918292

    I am trying really hard to be diplomatic and not call out the subtext of racism of having such a orientalist theory of change, because as soon as you mention the “r” word then all pretense of a good faith exchange goes out the window.

    When you take away the agency of the oppressor then you uphold the oppression.

    • amemorablename@lemmygrad.ml
      71·
      25 days ago

      Apparently they are all brainwashed and once you find the secret sauce to unlock this then the true revolution will begin:

      I’m pretty confident you cannot pull out a single quote from that thread of someone who is actually arguing such a binary and simplistic view as this. Just some people who are pushing back on the red sails article implication that people necessarily know better and are essentially pretending not to, or avoiding knowing better because they just kinda don’t wanna; which it strikes me on further reflection is a pretty individualist view, implying personal desire to make something happen supersedes material constraints.

      That said, some westerners are truly terrible people. Some are varying shades of ignorant and oppressive. Some are mostly just ignorant and the most they’re probably going to do is say some offensive words accidentally. It varies and working out which you’re dealing with matters. Some people would sooner wear a hair shirt than continue to knowingly be an oppressor. Some are abusive jerks and are looking for excuses to justify their behavior. And areas in-between.

      We probably agree on general principle of investigating and acting upon the realities, but are not connecting on the details.

      P.S. You aren’t the only one who has been trying to be diplomatic. I’ve been trying to engage with the whole thing with a lot of thought and good faith.