In which direction should the UE go? This question will be discussed in the coming months not only in Luxembourg, but also in the other member states. The citizens deserve more than ever, in these turbulent times, clear answers and realistic visions.
In general, opinions about the future of the EU can be divided into three models.
Federalists, who do not hesitate to mention the United States of America as an example, are committed to the United States of Europe. Countries would cede their sovereignty to a central government, which would imply a common Constitution, a common government, a common tax system, a common army and so on. In Luxembourg, the ADR is the only party to vehemently oppose this model, as member states would be forced to give up their freedom and independence. Federalists seem to have forgotten that, unlike the United States of America, there is within the EU a cultural diversity that could not be taken into account in a central state. There is no European people, but only different European nations. How is a country supposed to preserve its identity, if it loses its sovereignty to become simply a province?
It is clear that the EU, in its current form, is moving in the wrong direction, but in Luxembourg there‘s consensus on the need for a peaceful Europe with a large domestic market. For other countries, this is not necessarily the case. Some political parties are trying to profit from the eurocritical atmosphere (which is very often justified) by summoning a collapse of the EU. Although a withdrawal from the EU can be a solution for some member states, Luxembourg should not follow that path.
The ADR, as a member of the Alliance of European Conservatives and Reformists (AECR), is convinced that there is a solution between federal Europe and a collapse of the EU, namely a Europe of Nations: sovereign states working together for more freedom and more economic growth.
We need a EU, in which countries have more decision-making power; a EU, in which national interests have a higher value; a EU, which listens again to its member states and its citizens – and for sure not a EU constantly longing for more power!