July 3, 2009

Auf Wiedersehen to a Strong Europe

Hans Hoyng, Der Spiegel

AP Photo

Euro-skeptics have plenty of reasons to celebrate. By strengthening national parliaments vis-a-vis the EU, Germany's highest court has ended the dream of a 'United States of Europe.' And that's good news for Eastern European countries, who often feel bullied by Germany, the alliance's heavyweight.

A few years ago, continental Europe was busy trying to present itself as a convincing alternative to American neoconservatives and their power-hungry worldview. And, in doing so, "Old Europe" actually experienced a completely unexpected resurgance. In the minds of its inhabitants, the European Union was the perfect alternative to an enormous United States that was drunk on power, savouring its "unipolar moment" and not giving a hoot about either its allies or...

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TAGGED: Germany, Commission of European Communities, Federal Constitutional Court, European Union, European parliament, Europe, United States, SPIEGEL

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