Dr Roberts Zīle MEP Janet Daley WISHFUL WHY YOUNG PEOPLE, LIKE THINKING THE YOUNGER ME, VERSUS KEEP FALLING New Direction Academy in Granada, Spain FOR TROTSKY REALITY p.22 p.13 p.15 Issue #5 | April 2019 A fortnightly Newspaper by the Alliance of Conservatives and Reformists in Europe (ACRE) | theconservative.online Brexit EU27 PREPARING FOR A “NO DEAL” European countries are pre- paring for a “no deal” on Brexit. Chancellery of the Prime Minister of Poland of the Prime Minister Chancellery The Conservative has looked at the preparations taking place in diff erent countries. p.5 Grzegorz Kuczyński NATO MUST CONTINUE TO BE FLEXIBLE TO SURVIVE As NATO turns 70, a new report from Poland addresses what the future holds for the Alliance and how best to tackle the main threat posed to Central Europe by Russia. p.8 Profile VALDEMAR TOMAŠEVSKI From Vilnius to the Nation NATO TURNS 70 p.10 he North Atlantic Treaty security for many countries on the periph- policy, to reflect the changing dynam- The annexation of Crimea demon- Organisation celebrated its eries of Europe. With the support of the ics of its members. From welcoming strated the need for NATO to adapt 70th Anniversary this month. Americans and Canadians, NATO offers former rivals, who have become some its strategy when dealing with the Anna Fotyga MEP For seven decades, NATO a sense of safety for those living within in the alliances closest allies, to the post- Russia, as for too long they had been Thas stood at the forefront of Euro- its borders. And even as that frontier has cold war pivot that has seen a refocus- complaisant. NATO AT 70 pean defence and guaranteed a lasting expanded Eastwards, the value of NATO ing of efforts on counter terrorism and Not only must the Alliance remain vig- “Together we continue to over- peace that many didn’t think would sur- membership has not been lost. jihadism. ilant, it must also upgrade its arsenal to come the most serious security vive in the years that proceeded Sec- The Alliance has undergone huge geo- maintain a sufficient defensive posture. challenges in a generation: Russia’s ond World War. Yet despite its success, graphic shifts. In the beginning NATO An Old Threat NATO ought to invest more in heavy equip- aggression in and around Europe, now more than ever, we need remind- was focused on Western Europe and However, since the Russian invasion ment and armaments that will minimize terrorism and instability in our ing of the importance of the trans-Atlan- bridging the divide between Atlantic of Georgia in 2008 and the annexation the threat posed by Russia’s latest gener- southern neighbourhood, as well as tic relationship. With a resurgent Russia, partners, bringing together 12 member of Crimea in 2014, NATO has shifted ations of combat aircraft and anti-sub- very real threats from cyber-attacks growing threat of terrorism and popu- states. Today it’s an Alliance that spans its focus from the War on Terror back marine weapons, as well as finding smart and missile proliferation.” p.13 list attempts to either divide, scrap or the entire continent, with the collective to countering the threat from Russia. ways to work around their current salami replace the Alliance, support for NATO is might of 29 countries. From the USA to The 29 Member States have become tactics. The NATO allies need to try their more important than ever before. Poland, Canada to Croatia. resolute in their commitment to effi- utmost to show Russia that its nuclear Jan Zahradil The NATO Alliance has stood for the Over the last 70 years, NATO has ciently deter Moscow, and to further blackmail is useless and that they will not longest time as a beacon of freedom and also undergone several huge shifts in strengthen the Alliance’s eastern flank. bow down to bullies. CONTINUED ON p.12 CAMPAIGN DIARY Part IV. Freedom of religion and belief, ON DEMOCRACY IN EUROPE by Tomasz G. Grosse Blue Green Summit, Road to Europe p.18 U institutions are increasingly the European Union (CJEU) as well as its restricting democratic practices policy of extending the scope of EU law, E in its Member States. This is due seeking to enhance the competences of EU Conservative Books to two main reasons: first, the EU aims to supranational institutions and the protec- improve the efficiency of the management tion of the rule of law principle within the W.M. Thackeray’s of public policies, and second, it seeks to community. The second mechanism is VANITY FAIR develop the so-called integration “through related to the majority voting procedure in by James Delingpole law”, as well as through observing the rule the EU, which appears to be more and more Vanity Fair is indeed a magnifi- of law principle. The goal of the follow- frequently used within its structures. Both cent novel and a great, rollicking ing article is to analyse certain European instruments are considered problematic in problems with democracy using the exam- light of democratic standards. According read, surprisingly modern in its ple of two basic mechanisms of European to some scholars, such mechanisms may tone and style, and refreshingly integration: the first concerns the integra- therefore result in the rebellion of Member free of the earnest moralising we tion “through law” and European consti- States along with their societies against EU have to endure in contemporaries tutionalism. Here, I will focus in particular institutions and thus might deepen further like Dickens. p.21 CONTINUED ON p.16 on the example of the Court of Justice of disintegration processes in Europe. 2 EDITORIAL theconservative.online theconservative.online EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT 3 Zdzislaw Krasnodebski MEP EU countries that are not willing to act European Parliament overreach in our common interest.” SUMMIT SEASON The agreement reached will see the A reckless political project EU country where a pipeline lands be European Parliament responsible for applying the new rules that threatens energy security and allows exemptions from those rules considers baring can be authorised. Crucially however, New EU gas pipeline rules do not go far enough warns ECR MEP the criteria for assessing whether such ExxonMobil Zdzislaw Krasnodebski. Legislation intended to ensure that the EU’s exemptions can be granted are vague energy market rules apply to pipelines arriving from third countries and pose serious questions on how they The European Parliament such as Russia provide too many loopholes and ignore the interests of can be applied. This only exacerbates the has had a hearing to discuss neighbouring Member States, warned Krasnodebski, who is the ECR widely shared concerns that Nord Stream whether or not a lobbying a energy spokesman and Vice-President of the European Parliament. 2 will see Germany become Europe’s gas ban should be imposed on the NATO hub and allow Russia to exert even more U.S. oil giant ExxonMobil. The hen first announced, the pro- being as accessible to other operators, as pressure on Ukraine, currently the main hearing in Brussels came about posals were seen as a direct those situated within the EU. transit route for Russian gas into the EU. because of an anti-fossil fuel W attempt to prevent Russia Speaking after the vote Krasnodebski, Krasnodebski concluded: campaign led by two American AT from further exerting undue influence who followed the proposals for the “Nord Stream 2 is a reckless politi- activists and academics, Naomi over EU Member States vis-à-vis their Group, said: cal project that threatens our Orestes and Geoffrey Supran, planned Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which “Without saying so these energy security and puts the who have made clear that their Parliament – has the right to choosing connects to the EU in Germany and new rules were intended interests of one country goal is to vilify the image of which actors can keep their civil rights, 70 includes former Chancellor Gerhard to ensure one particular ahead of everyone else’s. fossil fuel companies. and which should have those rights YEARS Schröder as board member. project played by our We hear a lot about taken away. Individuals have a consti- They would have ensured that the rules. But the agree- European solidarity r Supran came to Brussels to tutional right to free speech. A corpo- pipeline operated to the same levels of ment gives too much and this is the exact testify that since the 1970s, ration, as a group of individuals with by Richard Milsom transparency and efficiency, while also room for manoeuvre for opposite.” ■ M ExxonMobil said one thing a legal personality, in the same way as internally – that they knew about cli- Greenpeace, have the same right as a mate change and it would be terrible natural person to do so. If the funda- ATO has for 70 years secured the peace Flanders, while 40 per cent live in bilingual Brus- CRE has been very active with three Holland and Thierry Baudet discussed how the – while saying another in advertise- mental rights such as free speech are and freedom of the West through part- sels and French-speaking Wallonia. Speculation events in the last two weeks. The sec- European Renaissance was formed by the great- ments and public statements. How- taken from ExxonMobil, what other, N nership and cooperation. But today the is rife already about which parties will form the A ond Faith and Freedom Summit was est cultural, social, scientific and commercial ever, this testimony ignores the fact natural and legal persons and associ- treaty organisation is at a historic crossroad. next coalition and the general election that will convened to continue ACRE’s campaign for the exchange ever on our continent.