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Euroscepticism EUROSCEPTICISM YOUNG EUROPEAN LEADERSHIP EUROSCEPTICISM Voices from Young European Leaders May 2015 3 Introduction 7 – 11 Why is the debate on Euroscepticism important in your country and how does it reflect the country’s perspective of the European Union as a global actor? 13 – 16 What are the main issues advanced by your country’s Eurosceptic groups? Which elements of these issues have a legitimate place in the debate — and which do not? 19 – 21 Is Euroscepticism more of an economic issue in your country or more political? 23– 25 Is it mainly a right- or left-wing issue (or both)? 27 – 29 And if Eurosceptics are blaming these issues on groups of people, who is to blame, in their eyes? Is it the elite of their own country, that of another, or another group entirely? 31 – 39 About the Euroscepticism Project 41 – 45 Project Team 46 – 47 About Young European Leadership Euroscepticism: Voices from Young European Leaders Young European Leadership 169 Boulevard Anspach, 1000 Brussels, Belgium For any inquiries: [email protected] Published as of 29 June 2015 in Berlin, Germany. EUROSCEPTICISM 1 “ No man is an island, INTRODUCTION entire of itself; every man is a piece of the Adam Lenton continent, a part of the main. If a clod be washed away by the Today in the European Parliament more deeper issues of trust, cohesion and than one quarter of all MEPs are critical identity, a move away from the so- sea, Europe is the less.” of, or oppose outright, the Union and called ‘democratic deficit’ arguments of the broader ideas associated with closer previous years.6 john donne, 1624 European integration.1 Whether in academia, policymaking For arguably the first time in its or in popular discourse, debates and existence, opposition to the EU has discussions of these issues will continue manifested itself clearly in nearly all to occupy a prominent space in society, member states, northern and southern, and ultimately, will determine the future as well as on local and national levels. of the Union. But importantly how do Though differing in form and in the Young European Leaders, who have a extent to which they oppose aspects of stake in the future of the continent, see EU integration- whether as ‘hard’ or these issues? ‘soft’ Eurosceptics,2 or ‘Eurosceptics and This booklet seeks to continue a process Europhobes’,3 for instance- one thing of discussion and analysis, featuring is clear: Euroscepticism has become a contributions on important questions mainstream issue for Europe and for of Euroscepticism from young people Europeans. hailing from different countries and In light of this it seems apparent that backgrounds. It also is an opportunity to the remainder of 2015 will be no less gain an insight into national perspectives challenging for Europe than previous on a topic which connects all of us years. Elections are set to take place across the continent. And, like with in a quarter of EU member states.4 In Euroscepticism itself, it is only by coming Britain, voters are set to go to the polls together as Europeans that we can hope to with the prospect of a future in-out find solutions. referendum on EU membership almost 1 http://www.notre-europe.eu/media/euroscepticismoreurophobia- bertoncini-koenig-ne-jdi-nov14.pdf?pdf=ok guaranteed, setting the scene for the 2 https://www.sussex.ac.uk/webteam/gateway/file.php?name=sei- possible exit of a member state from the working-paper-no-51.pdf&site=266 3 http://www.notre-europe.eu/media/euroscepticismoreurophobia- EU- unprecedented in its history. Though bertoncini-koenig-ne-jdi-nov14.pdf?pdf=ok Europe’s economy in 2015 appears to be 4 http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/dec/30/europe- 2015-elections-eu-britain 5 turning a corner, oft-mentioned hopes 5 http://www.economist.com/blogs/graphicdetail/2015/02/european- that economic recovery will deliver a economy-guide 6 http://www.ecfr.eu/page/-/ECFR79_EUROSCEPTICISM_BRIEF_ blow to Eurosceptic movements belie AW.pdf 2 EUROSCEPTICISM EUROSCEPTICISM 3 “I n order for the “What makes the sentiment to be EU so special is comprehensively that each member explained, one also has more or less “S o, if we want to needs to start by the same influence engage ourselves looking into its on regional and as Germans and as wider historic and global issues.” Europeans, either cultural context.” poland (p. 10) way we have to britain (p. 7) understand what drives people to be against Europe and its mission.” germany (p. 13) “63% of French people think the most important issue now facing the European Union “ Spaniards have not is the economic played a significant situation.” role representing france (p. 19) the EU as President of the European Commission, the European Parliament “G reek scepticism and the European towards the Council — to name European a few — throughout Union cannot be their history within understood without the EU.” getting to grips with spain (p. 15) the question of self-determination.” greece (p. 24) 4 EUROSCEPTICISM EUROSCEPTICISM 5 1 Why is the debate on Euroscepticism important in your country and how does it reflect the country’s perspective of the European Union as a global actor? Britain Denmark France Britain can be considered as the “I’m afraid to openly say I am pro- The French debate on Euroscepticism progenitors of the Eurosceptic sentiment. European” so said a politician friend of is important for two reasons. The The very term ‘Eurosceptic’ was coined mine, clearly depicting the increasing first one is symbolic: France is a founding in Britain in the mid 80s. Despite the pressure that Euroscepticism is placing member of the European Union, and significant levels of support won by on the political scene in Denmark. It was very active in all the major treaty Eurosceptics in European Union elections, has become normal to say that Danish changes. Its reconciliation with Germany this success has failed to ‘spill over’ people are not pro-European, and that after the Second World War has always into the respective political arenas, any ideas or policies even remotely been a strong symbol of broader European Britain seems to be particularly prone to endorsing increased European integration reconciliation. In this regard, evidence turbulence surrounding the European will be met with the political ‘death’ of that the French population is becoming issue. When looking at the development their backers. However, this profoundly increasingly Eurosceptic is visible in of Euroscepticism in the country it is Eurosceptic atmosphere is only an the rise of Euroscepticism in European not sufficient to merely focus upon its illusion created by the media. In fact, institutions. The second reason is more reflection on public opinion, the media the latest referendums suggest that more concrete: France has 74 seats in the and national party politics. In order than 45% of people in Denmark still European parliament, giving it has the for the sentiment to be comprehensively consider themselves pro-European. It second largest national delegation after explained, one also needs to start by is important to have a debate on this Germany, which has 96 MEPs. Therefore, looking into its wider historic and cultural subject in my country, as doing so would a rise of Euroscepticism in France means context. It can be argued that Britain is encourage pro-Europeans to get more a similar rise in the European parliament. characterised by a literal Europhobia courage and potentially even force This is what happened during the last (a cultural fear of ‘all things European’) referendums on the shameful opt-outs. European elections: the far-right and which adds to the opposition of EU By Narcis George Matache Eurosceptic Front National (FN) won membership. It is suggested by a number in the polls, with 25% of the votes. They of authors that this may be rooted in were able to elect 24 MEPs, and almost the country’s post war national identity succeeded in creating a political group crisis. For instance, ‘hating Europeans with other Eurosceptic parties (the Dutch and championing British’ seems to have PVV, the Austrian FPÖ, the Italien Lega persistently dogged postwar Anglo- Nord, and the Belgian Vlaams Belang). European relations. There is some truth These five parties are still collaborating, to this, as shown by a striking 71% of and other political groups are forced to Britons who claimed to identify acknowledge their presence. solely with their own nationality and By Jean Comte not with Europe. By Simona Falanga 6 EUROSCEPTICISM EUROSCEPTICISM 7 Why is the debate on Euroscepticism important in your country and how does it reflect the Why is the debate on Euroscepticism important in your country and how does it reflect the country’s perspective of the European Union as a global actor? country’s perspective of the European Union as a global actor? sanctions against Russia over it actions 1 European Commission, Eurobarometer in eastern Ukraine have been largely Standaard no. 80, ‘Public Opinion in the opposed,5 due to the their damaging European Union’, Fall 2013, National report impact on exports from Italian farmers The Netherlands, via http://ec.europa.eu/public_ and SMEs to Moscow. opinion/archives/eb/eb80/eb80_nl_nl_nat.pdf In essence, Eurosceptics in Italy believe 2 Taggart, Paul and Aleks Szczerbiak (2003) Germany Greece Italy that the EU should take a step backwards The Netherlands ‘Theorizing Party-Based Euroscepticism: and leave European countries free from Problems of Definition, Measurement and In Germany, we lack a sense of European The fairy-tale between the European Looking back at the results of the Brussels diktat. The EU, they argue, The Netherlands is one of the founding Causality’, SEI Working Paper No.
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