By: Dr Štefan Šumah
The European Commission, together with the excessively expanded Brussels bureaucracy, has become merely a caricature of what it should represent. It is increasingly preoccupied with itself and with matters that, according to the EU’s founding treaty, should not even concern it. The new rules of the game, which they make up as they go, are applied selectively – what applies to Hungary does not apply to Denmark, and what applies to Poland does not apply to France. Or what applied to the previous government in an EU member state does not apply to the new government because it has the correct political orientation.
Yes, we are ruled by unelected bureaucrats who seize powers that do not even belong to them. What would the “fathers” of European integration, Jean Monnet and Robert Schuman, say if they saw how their idea had degenerated into a bureaucratic apparatus serving only itself? And what would Konrad Adenauer, who, together with Erhard, created the German economic miracle based on ordoliberalism, competition, and the free market, say if he saw the mountains of regulations, restrictions, and recommendations?
Straight cucumbers are just one of the absurd inventions that, fortunately, never materialised. However, there are several ideas that could be disastrous for the EU in the long run, which the Brussels bureaucracy has successfully implemented. For example, CO2 coupons, which, together with the green transition, could be the death sentence for the competitiveness of the European economy. Or the recommendations and requirements to promote and fund unproductive NGOs that, through the ideas of the Frankfurt Marxist school, are dismantling the very values on which the European Union was built – like nurturing a snake in one’s bosom. The importation of the Third World and, consequently, the problems of the Third World… And the list goes on. But real problems are not being solved, and even worse, those who point out the real issues are labelled as populists.
Some might say I am too harsh on the European Commission, but can anyone name at least three smart things it has done in the previous term? The start of the new Commission does not indicate any improvement either – just more empty rhetoric and political correctness aimed at pleasing everyone. Well, they certainly do not please me.
With all the “brilliant” ideas of the European Commission, I sometimes get the impression that it exists primarily to make life miserable for us, EU citizens. I imagine a conversation among the European commissioners at one of their meetings going something like this: “The citizens are angry about migration. What should we do? People are saying they do not want more migrants, that they undermine the welfare state, engage in crime, and do not want to work,” says the first commissioner. “This is a tough issue, hard to solve! Does anyone have any ideas? Speak up!” says Ursula.
They ponder what to do – the problem is difficult, almost unsolvable. They fear the vocal minority that will quickly start demonstrating in the name of human rights if they even attempt to change the status quo. They also fear for their own seats, as Europe is slowly, very slowly, shifting to the right. Then, the smartest among them suddenly has an idea: “I have a brilliant idea! What if the Commission mandates that bottle caps must remain attached to plastic bottles, even after being unscrewed?”
“But what does a bottle cap attached to a bottle have to do with migration?” asks the first commissioner, puzzled. “What do you mean by that?”
“Nothing at all. But people will go crazy when they drink from plastic bottles and the cap dangles in their face. They will forget about migration problems and curse us for this nonsense instead. But it is better that they curse us for this lousy cap than for migration,” explains the smartest commissioner.
Ursula: “Excellent idea! That is exactly what we will do!” And all the commissioners agree without a single vote against it. Meanwhile, people curse as they try to drink from bottles, with the cap slapping them in the nose. And suddenly, that damn cap becomes the biggest problem in Europe.
