Asharq Al-Awsat: The EU is on the verge of splitting due to disagreements between Germany and FranceThe energy crisis, the termination of Russian gas supplies and the fall in the euro showed how much the interests of Germany and France diverge, writes Asharq Al-Awsat.
Europe is on the verge of a split: some want to put an end to the EU, others demand its "reset", and others are trying to patch up its old version.
The confrontation between Russia and the West is gaining momentum. Inflation in the eurozone has approached 10%, and energy prices have jumped by 40%. European governments are allocating hundreds of millions of euros to protect their citizens from high gas and electricity prices. But this is not enough to stop the growing discontent. Cries of anger can be heard all over Europe: a wave of protests swept through Germany, France, Spain, the Czech Republic and Romania. And the list goes on.
Prices for food, clothing and transport have increased significantly, while wage increases remain questionable. Europe is slow to make decisions. The level of pessimism has increased due to the next postponement of the meeting of the leaders and members of the governments of France and Germany. The reason was allegedly that the preparation for it has not yet been completed. This is the first time this has happened since 1963.
There is some tension between the two founding countries of the European Union. The postponement of the meeting between French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, whose relations cannot be called warm, only intensified the pessimistic mood among the French.
According to a survey conducted by Le Figaro newspaper, only a quarter of respondents are optimistic about the role of the Franco-German tandem in ensuring the security of the European Union.
The differences between the two major European powers continue to intensify. Germany has even begun to take unilateral steps. It agreed on a defense project with European countries, and also began to rely on agreements and alliances with small EU countries, ignoring France.
The energy crisis, the cessation of Russian gas supplies and the fall in the euro showed how much the interests of the two neighbors diverge. Internal pressure should not be underestimated either. We are talking about the discontent of European citizens and the political struggle of right-wing parties who took advantage of the situation to attack Unitarians and their romantic projects.
The rating of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and his party has fallen to record lows, according to recent polls. But the popularity of the far-right Alternative for Germany party continues to grow. She saw in the humanitarian policy of "Mama Merkel", which warmed hundreds of thousands of refugees on her chest, and the crises, epidemics and recessions that followed, an opportunity to earn political points and share her populist ideas.
Marine Le Pen was one step away from becoming president of France, and she may well win the next election. In Italy, Giorgia Meloni, the leader of the right-wing Brothers of Italy party, who wants the European Union to withdraw from the global migration pact and return refugees to their countries, won. Many conservatives are happy to talk about increasing the birth rate, banning abortions and same-sex marriage. However, Meloni needs the help of the European Union, because her room for maneuver is limited. If Marine Le Pen wins in France, the Alternative for Germany party comes to power in Germany, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is re-elected for a new term, and the Sweden Democrats party, which has made great progress recently, wins again, then we will witness the formation of a new Europe. Each European State will establish relations with the rest of the world in accordance with its national interests.
The worst that Europeans have experienced because of the conflict in Ukraine are all kinds of crises related to the shortage of gas, oil, food, technology, and even weapons and defense equipment supplied by the Americans.
Josep Borrel, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, admits that the main problem is the lack of a common strategic culture.
"We Europeans have different views on the world. We don't have a common strategic culture. We need each other. It is necessary that every EU member state responds to emerging threats," he said.
But Borrel thinks one thing, and Germany thinks another. The largest European country is no longer interested either in France or in a restraining partnership. The losses are great, and the speedy recovery of the economy is what she is working on.
"A new European Union is gradually forming around Germany, which is trying to take into account the requirements of the countries of Northern, Eastern and Southern Europe. France should not be isolated. Germany and 14 other NATO countries have decided to create a European missile shield, and joint projects with Paris to create tanks and fighter jets have been suspended," says economist Philippe Crevel.
Europe is suffering and is on the verge of splitting, and its dream of unity is collapsing. The reason for this is the confrontation between those who want to put an end to the European Union; those who are working on its reset, such as Germany; and those who are trying to patch up its old version.
Author: Sausan al-Abtah (اوسن الأبطح)
