In a political pamphlet published today (5 September), the MEP outlines his vision for a federal Europe. He suggests the creation of a "formal second-class membership" for the UK and any other country which wishes to abstain from federalist goals in the EU's 'core' member states.
Duff argues that the practice of deciding bailouts of indebted countries at European summits has been proven ineffective and allowed "Paris and Berlin to form a directoire […] the antithesis of a federal Europe".
Instead, he calls for shifting decision-making to new European institutions through the creation a bigger European budget, an EU treasury, a European Monetary Fund and sanctions for countries lacking budget discipline.
When asked to comment on the British opt-out scheme, prominent Eurosceptic MEP and popular blogger Daniel Hannan (UK; European Conservatives and Reformists) said "that's their call. The only thing that is my immediate concern as a British representative – and this ought to apply to Andrew Duff, too, come to that – is to ensure that, if Britain is being asked to give its approval to fiscal union within EU legal structures, we get something in return".
Hannan went on to say that such a quid pro quo was necessary as Britain risked getting entangled in a federal Europe even with a formal opt-out.
"That's why I am afraid it's not enough to say 'this doesn't affect you'. We're already being dragged into the debt union," he added, referring to Britain's contributions to the bailout packages aimed at rescuing several struggling eurozone countries.
Toward treaty reform?
Duff's proposed reforms would require substantial treaty changes which, following the controversies over the ill-fated Constitutional Treaty and the Lisbon Treaty, most governments have little appetite for.
This may be changing, however, as German newspaper Bild reported last week that German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble told a closed meeting of members of his party last Thursday that the eurozone crisis made such changes necessary "even though we know how difficult treaty negotiations can be".
At a seminar on European citizenship last Friday (2 September), Duff claimed that a new convention to federalise Europe could be an opportunity to reclaim the narrative from nationalists in the run-up to the 2014 elections to the European Parliament.
"If we do not do something dramatic to change the character of these elections then even the most federalist parties will lack aspiration and will be on the defensive on issues like protectionism, immigration, and worse," he said.
COMMENTS
Andrew Duff proposal for a treaty revision establishing a durable system of economic governance within the EU should be welcome . The french section of the European Federalists has been advocating such an initiative since September 2010.
We consider that preparatory work should start asap within the EP - as the Barroso Commission will probably not dare to take it on.
A preliminary draft should be ready in time for the 2014 renewal of the EP and Commission - and submitted to a public debate during the election campaign.
Considerations over eventual opt-outs and "EU 17 or 27" dichotomy are premature.
Priority must be given to finding new solutions in line and conformity with European general interest.
Jean-Guy GIRAUD
Euro-septics can be relied on to trot out the usual garbage and half-truths. And so it is in the case of Hannan and with respect to Britain's contributions to the bailout packages of various eurozone countries and the implication that the UK has already been dragged into a “debt union”. A little clarity would help. UK banks held a considerable amount of Irish bank debt. The UK government, unless it wanted the situation to become worse (UK banks go out of business) had little option but to provide support to UK banks and hence Irish banks. This was not an act of charity but of pure self interest – and thus entirely characteristic of UK membership of the EU. Of course UK banks did not need to get involved in the Euro zone, but they did, because they thought they could make a fast buck - hardly a case of being “dragged into the debt union”. Talking about another type of dragging, this time foot dragging, the UK conservative/public schoolboy party is now becoming reluctant to reform its banking industry (i.e. separate the retail from the casino part). Finally, I rather doubt EU member states would need the UK’s “permission” for further fiscal union. So sorry to say Hannan, you may hope to be the gate keeper but it ain’t going to happen.
Those like me, who absolutely loathe everything about the EU, regard Daniel Hannan as a faux EU-sceptic. When he makes remarks like ".if Britain is being asked to give its approval to fiscal union within EU legal structures, we get something in return" amply demonstrates adherence to his party's line on the EU.
As for bailing out thebanks UK or Irish, it was done with UK and Irish tax payers money, without even asking them. That is not democracy and neither is bailing out member states. It will not save the Euro from the disaster to come, but when it's all over and the dust settles maybe we can all get back to being sovereign nations again.
Quoting Mike Parr:
"This was not an act of charity but of pure self interest – and thus entirely characteristic of UK membership of the EU."
All our dealings with the EU should be purely out of self interest, as it most certainly is for the French, amongst others. It is the DUTY of our (UK) politicians to look after the UK first,and not get involved in some federalist fantasy. Leave that to the other 26 if they want it.
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