As the Irish government assumes the Presidency of the European Union from July our people will continue to be bombarded by over-exaggerated claims about the democratic nature of the EU and the extent of the Irish government influence on decisions, selling us the myth that we are at the heart of the EU power structures.
This is simply untrue. The Irish government follows orders as a willing servant of the EU. It has intentionally abandoned all serious levers of national economic sovereignty and national political independence.
Since the adoption of the Nice and Lisbon treaties, militarism has been baked into the structure of the EU. Economic and social policies favour big business and attack workers rights. These treaties cemented the “primacy of the market” over national social and economic policies. For example, the restrictions on state-led housing strategy and ensuring both housing and healthcare favours global financial institutions and mega-corporations.
No matter what spin is put forward by the Irish government and establishment mouthpieces, you can not separate EU militarism, military structures and global military adventures from NATO. We are experiencing a deepening of that militarisation and the increasingly reactionary nature of the EU. With ever growing attacks on peoples democratic rights, crushing and excessive unilateral coercive measures, the prolonging of war in Ukraine, EU complicity in the Gaza genocide, neo-colonial wars on the African continent and the illegal and unprovoked wars on Iran and West Asia, the EU and NATO have shown the world that they are the greatest threat to global peace and stability.
As the EU shifts to a war economy, ostensibly to fight Russia directly, challenge China and secure resources on the African continent and beyond, the Irish government is moving to destroy the Triple Lock, increase military spending and get us embroiled in militarism and warmongering for the interests of delusional and white supremacist Western elites. This drive to expand the war economy is coming at direct cost to the people of the EU, ensuring further cuts to education, health, transport, agriculture, and climate action.
There is simply not a better or more peaceful EU to be won within the existing treaty structures and the dominant economic and social system – the only one allowed by the EU.
