Future European Integration Needs More Democracy on European Level

During the European Parliament elections the expression European cooperation was used very often in political discussions. But the elections were more than about cooperation – it was about the future integration. Difference is that integration means to be part of an integrated system with shared values, way of thinking and common rules. Integration is about that more common decisions can be taken on European level in order to solve common changes and problems with greater resources and impact. Integration also includes the values, loyalties and relations between the citizens on one side and the member states and the EU on the other side. European integration means to think what is good, not only for member states but also for the Union itself.

Historically seen EU has achieved more than any other international, intergovernmental or supranational institution. Since the creation of the European Cool and Steel Union both European peoples and states have in different degrees and at different moments been tightened and integrated more with each other. In many ways by integrating themselves the European member states are today sharing and pooling their sovereignty so much that when many critics talk about the wrongdoings of the supranational behaviours or globalization often the aspects that are discussed are obsolete since the perception of the sovereignty has changed. To share and have a common currency, laws, free movement for citizens and common foreign policy was among many Europeans unthinkable 30, 40, 50 or 60 years ago. Today such developments are more or less necessary for states and societies in order to be able to function in a global and post-national world. And no, things in Europe was not better before as among others many European nationalists argue for. More integration in certain areas is needed in order  to solve the current crisis and to create a better future - not a better past.

European democracy. In the Union of today it is important for the individual to have stronger political rights and abilities for influencing the political power above the national level.

Union needs reforms for the future which are needed in order to decrease the bureaucracy and push more focus on where the Union can work more effectively. Reforming the Union means not only to push powers down to the Member States but also to integrate more and push the powers up.  Good example is forming the European Banking Union and more investments for labour mobility as direct lessons learned from the crisis.   However the future integration needs to be more transparent and democratically legitimized. Many citizens are not convinced or sceptical regarding more integration even if the recent crisis are still showing on how much the Member States are actually depending on each other.  For that it is necessary to increase the political statement of the citizens and stronger political identity towards the Union. After all the debate should not be as Yes or No to Europe, it should be more about which Europe we want to have.

The frustration or disappointment on how the Union is functioning is not only among citizens that are against or sceptic to more integration but also among the citizens who want to see a more integrated Union. The challenge which Europe is facing is  that the world and especially the economy is global while democracy is still most effective on the nation-state level. For example as Swedish citizen I can influence the power on local, regional and national level. But as European citizen my right and ability to influence power on European level is still limited to the European Parliament or the European Citizen Initiative. 

Proposals for making the Union more democratic  

To create more democracy on European level is not impossible. It is not written in stone that democracy has to be only fully effective in the frame of the nation-state.  Democracy is about giving rights to citizens to influence more power and create their own political identities. Many European citizens are after all sharing values and political opinions around the Union. Some of the inspiration is taken from USA and Canada where federalism has developed through centuries regarding the separation of powers between the federal and state level. Even in India with 23 formal languages and big cultural diversity there is a strong separation of powers.

So in order to do more for European democracy following could be done in the future:

1.    To give more influence to national parliaments regarding implementation of European polices. The proposals from Commission, Council and the EP need to be legitimized even by the national parliaments. It also means that members of national parliaments are going to need to be more aware about European politics in general and by that way provide a direct link between the Union and citizens who have voted for their MP:s.  

2.    To develop better media coverage of European politics. Brussels is not far away - it is the political capital of Europe. There should be more media as Euronews in order to provide more perspectives and information about the Union. Citizens in Europe need to know more about political developments in the Union, among other things which political groups are represented at the EP.  

3.    To stop the flying circus between Brussels and Strasbourg and to reduce high wages and benefits for parts of the EU-administrative corps. The populists in Europe should not be given right to argue about the elite against the people and concentration of all EU institutions in the same city would not only save money but also reduce CO2 emission. It also would send a strong signal that Union can be reformed.

4.    To establish possibility for a directly or partly directly elected European Commission. EP is a ground for future democratic development and democratically elected Commissioners should be individuals who can prove more that they are the right persons for the job by being more connected to the citizens. 

Memorial, Sanctions and the future of EU-Russia relations

Memorial

At the moment the Russian state authorities are aspiring to close down the NGO Memorial by applying to the Supreme Court. According to authorities the case with Memorial is based on the regulation within the so called “law on foreign agents” which should be seen as anti-democratic and repressive towards the NGO sector.

Memorial was formed during the Glasnost and Perestrojka period of the 80’s and among the formers was the Soviet dissident, scientist and political activist Andrej Saharov. The NGO was from beginning working with dealing with the past by providing information about the victims of the Stalin regime. Since then Memorial has been working with the victims of the wars in Chechnya and other HR issues. Memorial also received in 2009 the Andrej Saharov price.

This just one more example of Russia developing into a more repressive, authoritarian and nationalistic society instead of providing basic human and citizen rights to its citizens. As ALDE MEP Marietje Schaake expressed in the party statement:

The government of the Russian federation should at the very least adhere to agreements it has itself made, in the context of the Council of Europe, the OSCE, the European Court of Human rights, and of course its own constitution. We see a clear difference between ill guided Kremlin policies and the population of Russia and we support their aspiration for a just, democratic and free Russia.

Sanctions and future EU-Russia relations

As ALDE MEP Hans van Baalen said in the middle of July : More sanctions are the only way to keep Russia on the right side of the Ukrainian border . However sanctions are not a long term solution and Russia cannot be politically isolated. The long term solution should be that EU could have a common policy for EU-Russia relations since at the moment not even Germany has any authentic strategy for foreign policy towards Kreml. At the moment it is a challenge for the Union that some member states see Russia as a enemy or threat while others see it as economic partner.

Another approach could be to empower cooperation with pro-European parties in Russia such as Jablako. The party , which is strong in big cities, is at the moment of war against Ukraine and all the crisis aspiring for Russia to be more democratic and integrated with the EU. Eventual integration in the future would also mean that Russia should need to aspire  to become a democratic state and society again. After all Putins party is cooperating with several parties is Europe which are usually described as anti-immigration, racist, xenophobic, homophobic and nationalist parties. It is not only about which Europe we as citizens want to have but also which future we want to see between EU and Russia. 

Stop the war against Ukraine

Today there is a war between Russia and Ukraine, between two countries that through history have been parts of one state. People in both countries are affected in extremely negative ways by the current situation. After all there are lot of legacies and connections between the two countries’ inhabitants. And this tragedy is happening on a continent where many used to believe that war for territories were parts of history. Even if Russia is the biggest country in the world the Kreml has played the really nasty nationalist card. The annexation of Crimea has resulted in national pride and stronger trust in the government and Putin. But there are also other kinds of consequences. The increasing state spending for Crimea, sanctions and isolation from Europe and the negative publicity for Russia. And also a grievance among the citizens who are against the war.

Anti-war protestors in Russia are clear with one message. The war between “Russian and Ukrainian brothers” must stop immediate. At the same time the absurdity of the Russian state and pro-state propaganda is the opinions that Russians and Ukrainians are the same people, with the same “civilizational destiny” and that Ukrainian language is just a dialect of Russia. At the same time Ukrainians are called for fascists, traitors and according to some propagandists even conspirators with the West against Russia.

When I look at the pictures form anti-war marches in Moscow, S:t Petersburg and other parts of Russia I am foremost glad to see all the people that have courage to dare to stand against the aggression against Ukraine. It reminds me how people in Serbia during the 90’s dared to stand against aggressions against Croatia and Bosnia. And also about the people in Western Balkans that used too and still are used to fight against the corruption, hate, nationalism and inter-ethnical violence. About those who are engaged for Serbian and Bosnian EU membership, for welfare societies and better functional democracies where focus should be on the future and not on the tragedies of the past.

Because of the citizens that during the last days have been demonstrating against the war it is important to continue with different supports to democratic movements in Russia. In the future it would be a great benefit for Europe and Russia if Russia can be a democratic state integrated within the union. And the people that are demonstrating today may just be the democratic citizens, social activists and leaders of tomorrow. 

Statement against "orbanism"

Recently a statement was published on ALDE:s website regarding the current political situation in Hungary and the regime of Victor Orban. ALDE vice-president Sophie in ‘t Veld (D66, Netherlands) said that: 

“Over the past years, the Hungarian government has been relentlessly undermining the principles of democracy, rule of law and fundamental rights.  Recent developments have shown that Mr Orban’s administration has been stepping up the pace in challenging EU fundamental values, to an extent that if Hungary were to apply today to the EU, it might not even qualify”, 

“Europe is a community of values. We have to stand up for those values, when they are under threat. Europe cannot credibly promote fundamental rights abroad, if we do not enforce them within the EU itself. We should also send a powerful signal that authoritarianism and intolerance have no place in Europe. Not in Hungary nor anywhere else”. 

The situation is Hungary is worrying since the more authoritarian and nationalistic tendencies from the side of the regime are striking against the fundamental civil right and democratic culture that a modern stat should have. The situation in Hungary should also worry the EPP since Orbans party is its member. 

“On the European way of Russia. The alternative to Putin’s system”

Russian politician Sergei Mitrokhin from the social-liberal political party Yabloko presented a new publication called “On the European way of Russia. The alternative to Putin’s system” at the 26th Moscow International Book Fair. The publication is to be seen as a contemporary criticism of Putin’s regime. 

For more information follow this link. 

Ukraine's struggle is European!

Ukraine's struggle is European!

Ukraine is a place where the Russian nation was born is a very popular phrase among nationalists in Russia. Russian aggression against Ukraine is a direct result of growing nationalism in Russia where respect for Ukraine as a sovereign country with ambitions to join the European Union is totally neglected among leading Russian politicians. Ukraine is often seen as a part of the Russian world or Russian civilization while political, religious and social propaganda in Russia is based on perception that Ukraine is a cradle of the Russian nation and that Ukrainians and Russians are the same people.

Myths and lies about Ukraine but also about Europe are among the reasons why Putin again has enormous popularity. According to social surveys the majority of population in Russia does not only think that annexation of Crimea was a historic right but also that the crises in Ukraine was started by EU and USA. Also the critics of Putins regime, including the social-liberal political party Jablako, are by state or pro-state media being called for traitors, foreign agents and internal enemies. Today's Russia is becoming a more authoritarian, nationalistic and undemocratic society while relations with EU and several other neighbouring countries are considered to be worse the before with attribute of the Cold War rhetoric. The aggression against Ukraine and usage of propaganda based on myths, conspiracy theories and cynical thoughts are clear examples of that Russia is ready to use violence in order to prevent Ukraine from joining EU in the future.

Russian nationalism is directed towards the EU

Ukrainians are being called for fascists at the same time as Kreml and Putins party United Russia are cooperating with political parties in Europe that usually are categorized as populist, nationalist, neo-fascist, racists, xenophobic etc. Several of these of parties are represented in the European Parliament with ambition to dissolve Europe’s political union. That is why EU should never accept annexation of Crimea since otherwise Europe is risking to repeat its tragic history of fighting for territories. Contemporary Russian nationalism is not only about creating a nation after the fall of the Soviet Union. It is also about shaping the political map of Europe. Many Russian nationalists are against the existence of EU and the whole European idea that territories should not be changed by using military force for the sake of peace in Europe. It means that ambitions and political rhetoric of Russian nationalists are directed towards our political union with European integration, cooperation and citizenship.

Myth about loss of traditional values in Europe - Why Russia is not a traditional society 

Individuals from the Russian political elite including Putin are often describing Europe with words such as perverted, decadent, homosexual and backward. There is an opinion among Russian nationalists that European nations have lost their traditional values because of EU,liberalism,  LGBT persons, immigrants, multicultural societies etc. The absurd things are 1) Russia is a multinational and multicultural state, 2) Russia is in social science research presented as one of the most nontraditional in Europe since more than 70 years of communist rule resulted in that many traditions existing in Tsarist Russia such as political parties, popular movements and Russian Orthodox Church were systematically destroyed or marginalized during the time of the Soviet Union. Today’s Russian state wants to present itself as traditional but it still a society actually based   on legacy and traditions from the communist era. It means also that EU states such as Sweden, Germany, Latvia, Netherlands and France have much more traditional societies than Russian Federation since they were through history formed by ideas that were passed from generation to generation in political parties, popular movements, branch organizations, churches and other kinds of society movements.

The future of Ukraine and what Europe can learn from its past

A scenario where Russia would give Crimea back to Ukraine during the following years seems unrealistic at the moment but Putin’s time is not going to last for ever. Political changes in the Russian society are going to take pace sooner or later where EU needs to play a vital role in supporting the democratic movements. The promise which was given Ukraine must result in the future in that way where Ukraine would finally become a European member state. Pro-European stand among the pubic in Ukraine shows that our Union is attractive for non-EU states and that efforts of Maidan movement should not be forgotten. Being a part of the Union does not only mean having economic benefits but also safety regarding the solidarity proclamation. If Ukraine was already today a part of EU or NATO the Russian soldiers would never walk on the streets of Crimean cities or in South-eastern parts of the country.  In the future EU needs to work for a process where Ukraine would be given back the territory of Crimea since borders in Europe are not to be changed with military violence.

As a child I grew up in Bosnia wishing that Western Balkans could copy the Nordic Model or Franco-German relations after WWII as a model for relations between states. The Russian annexation of Crimea, especially the usage of state propaganda, reminds of the wars in former Yugoslavia where nationalistic rhetoric about territorial gains was used. It was mostly the Serbian nationalists who were promising that greater territories would lead to greater resources, prosperity and richness. Many people were killed, wounded, raped and forced to leave their homes during 1991-1995 because of the ambition to establish greater countries. But at the same time many people today on western Balkans also feel disillusioned that fighting for territories did not resulted in having a wealthier society and are wishing to join the EU where one reason is to have peaceful relations in the region where old conflicts and dreams of bigger territories are to be thrown away on the dustbin of history. It is important to remember that Romania, Bulgaria and Hungary but also Slovenia and Croatia needed to stop with all territorial disputes before joining the Union. Almost all borders in Europe are after all results of blood, sweat and tears. That why our Union is a guarantee for peace on the continent, a continent with lot of tragic histories because of wars and conflicts for territories with hate and suffering as its main consequences. Otherwise we could see scenario in Ukraine that could remind of how Serbia and Croatia were supporting establishment of pseudo states based on war crimes in Croatia and Bosnia during the wars in former Yugoslavia. 

Also Russia’s annexation of Crimea and military intervention in Ukraine is counterproductive since there are several parts of Russian Federation where separatism is strong. If Crimea and “Peoples Republics” can break away then why should not we also do the same? By its actions Russia could risk its own territories being separated from the federation if separatist tensions become stronger in the future. The tendencies are already being seen regarding the conflict when it comes to history writing in Russia. The latest history books for schools that are influenced by Kreml's  interpretation, or better said nationalistic interpretation of the Russian history, were not accepted in federal republic of Tatarstan. Also in parts of Siberia such as in Vladivostok area there is a dissatisfaction about the relations between the regions and the Kreml. Russia is a heavy centralized state or a federation without federalism. At the same time Russia is demanding from Ukriane to become a more federal state. 

There is need for a future European foreign policy strategy for relations with the Russian Federation

In order to stand for what many would call European values such as democracy, rule of law, welfare, human rights and free trade the EU needs to send a strong message that borders in Europe cannot be changed through violence and to really stand against the values of Russian nationalism. Putin, Le Pen and many other nationalists in Europe are all speaking of that they only want to take care of their own nations and that our union should be dismantled in order to protect national identities. However the reality is presenting another picture where Russia actions reminds of Milosevic’s Serbia, where Le Pen is wishing Belgium to split up so that Wallonia can be part of France and where politicians form Jobbik party in  Hungry are dreaming about Great Hungary with territories that today are parts of neighboring member states. These nationalists are also talking about creating new organic societies that would be based on traditional Christian values, a rhetoric that should remind everybody about Franco's Spain, Nazi Germany or Mussolini's Italy. It also shows that nationalists are after all against democratic societies with political pluralism, individuals being free to form their identities, free movement, respect for and tolerance between different groups within the society such as religious, ethnic and sexual minorities.   

In order to counter Putin's Russia the Unions member states most work both at home and for a more  common and unified foreign policy towards Russia. In many member states there are political parties and parts of the public that either are supporting Russia’s actions against Ukraine or are not caring about the current situation. Our Union is still affected both by the economic crises and also by the political or values crises where many citizens feel that EU is unreliable or are against further integration. For that reason it is important to stand for European values in the time when there could be a new war in Europe.

When it comes to foreign policy it has been very positive that member states could achieve a strong unity in order to impose sanctions against Russia and to provide help for Ukraine. However there is need for a common European strategy and common way of thinking that is not determined by national interests. Today there are member states who view Russia as an economic partner or as a security threat. Not even Germany which is usually described as leader of Europe has an authentic strategy for relations with Russia. It is usually described that member states have different histories of relations with Russia. But history is not a condition, it is a human made process which also resulted in establishment of the Eastern Partnership and common way of thinking among European politicians. 

Russia cannot be isolated by sanctions and in the future it would be only positive for EU if Russia could develop into a democratic state and could be more integrated in frame of European cooperation. Sanctions that are imposed today are only a measure that is needed to be taken in order to stand for solidarity with Ukraine and to stand for respect for international law that Russia is violating.In relations with Russia EU cannot do everything but doing nothing would also have been damaging for the future. The things that could be done in the future for improving the relations between Russia and EU and countering the current developments could be following:

1.     Enhance the cooperation between democratic parties and Russia and their sister parties in EU. The future of a more democratic Russia lies in generations of politicians that are opposing the current regime.

2.     Introduce free visas regimes for Russian citizens that are not directly connected with the Russian state apparatus or that are openly against the current regime. People should not be collectively punished and more prejudices between Europeans and Russians could discouraged.

3.      Make it easier for Russian citizens that with higher education and LGBT-persons to obtain citizenship in the EU.  Our Union need both skilled labor and to stand up for Human Rights.