• Disrupting Power Since 2015
  • Donate
  • Login
Thursday, May 15, 2025
  • Login
  • Register
Canary
MEDIA THAT DISRUPTS
  • News
    • UK
    • Global
    • Analysis
    • Trending
  • Editorial
  • Features
    • Features
    • Environment
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Money
    • Science
    • Business
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Sport & Gaming
  • Media
    • Video
    • Cartoons
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
MANAGE SUBSCRIPTION
SUPPORT
  • News
    • UK
    • Global
    • Analysis
    • Trending
  • Editorial
  • Features
    • Features
    • Environment
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Money
    • Science
    • Business
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Sport & Gaming
  • Media
    • Video
    • Cartoons
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
Canary
No Result
View All Result

Rejected Blairite David Miliband tries to fool us about the EU. But no one’s buying it.

Timothy J. Woods by Timothy J. Woods
16 August 2017
in Global
Reading Time: 5 mins read
170 2
A A
0
Home Global
319
SHARES
2.5k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Former Labour minister and Blairite David Miliband recently praised the European Union (EU) for its commitment to “democratic rules”. But in reality, his words are nonsense. Because the EU is a fundamentally undemocratic institution and it regularly violates the democratic principles it claims to uphold.

Labour rejected Miliband for leadership of the party in 2010, favouring his brother Ed. He is a former secretary of state for foreign and commonwealth affairs and is undoubtedly familiar with the inner workings of the EU and its democratic deficit. He has also previously advocated including countries with a questionable democratic record in possible future EU expansion, including Russia and Turkey. So it’s at the very least disingenuous for him to now be praising EU ‘democracy’.

Here are just four reasons why the EU is undemocratic, in spite of what people like Miliband say.

1) Crushing the democratically elected Greek government

The most striking recent example of the EU’s subversion of democracy concerns Greece in 2015. At the time, with ‘Grexit’ a distinct possibility, the Greek people elected the Syriza party to government on a promise of ending the crippling nationwide austerity programme. The austerity-imposing EU was not happy.

Highlighting the deficit of democracy in the EU, former UK Chancellor George Osborne said that Syriza’s manifesto would be “incompatible with what the eurozone currently demands of its members”. And in a sign of EU strong-arming to come, senior French politician Bruno Le Maire threatened: “Mr Tsipras will have to fall into line”.

2) Ever closer union, ever distant democracy

The most powerful pillar of the EU is the European Commission. But its members and president – Jean-Claude Juncker – are appointed to their roles rather than elected. The commission represents the EU whereas the European Parliament represents the people. The parliament is made up of democratically elected MEPs from across Europe. But it is a weak parliament, with no real power over legislation.

The real power lies with the commission. Yes, the undemocratically appointed one.

All the while, EU citizens are led to believe they are voting for true representation in Brussels.

3) ‘Ramming through the European constitution’. In whose interests?

Another prime example of how the EU subverts democracy regards the so-called ‘European constitution’. Attempts at even closer European political and economic integration were democratically rejected by numerous countries; including Ireland, the Netherlands and France. But the EU just kept coming back until they were able to ram the legislation through.

The Treaty of Lisbon was signed into law in 2007, but the EU’s strong-arming tactics to force it through weakened the concept of democracy on a European level. Referring directly to David Miliband and European politicians eager to force through the European constitution, Conservative MP William Hague said that they were:

ramming that constitution through under a new name and refusing to give voters a say at an election or a referendum

Then there is the huge area of European corporate lobbying, a billion-euro industry. With over 30,000 corporate lobbyists in Brussels and counting, they are estimated to influence 75% of European legislation.

4) German dominance

While German Chancellor Angela Merkel does her best to tone down German dominance, it’s clear. Former Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis saw EU power up close, particularly as a member of the Eurogroup of finance ministers. Germany’s Wolfgang Schauble was and continues to be its leader. And Varoufakis has no doubt that Germany’s control over Europe is ‘absolute‘.

The overwhelming power of one country out of a group of 28 raises serious questions regarding its influence and control over other member states.

The truth

Politicians and media outlets love to espouse the supposedly democratic ideals of the EU. They use it to great effect. Because if the truth were common knowledge, it might not take long for the EU to disintegrate.

Up until 1945, Europe was host to bloody war after war over centuries. And the main reason to bring Europe together under a union of nations was for the purpose of continental security in the aftermath of World War Two.

Current generations perhaps take peace in Europe for granted. But this does not excuse the fact that the EU is inherently undemocratic.

The idea of the EU as a selfless champion of democracy (which politicians like David Miliband want you to believe) is mere fantasy. Spreading this lie, though, makes us think we have a real say in who wields power in the EU and what they do in government. But the truth is that, under current EU rules, we don’t.

Get Involved!

– See more Canary articles on Brexit. And for more Global articles, follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

– Support The Canary if you appreciate the work we do.

Featured image via Sebastian Fuss and Chatham House

Share128Tweet80
Previous Post

As fightback begins after US terror strike, white supremacists take cover [VIDEOS]

Next Post

It’s only August, but the Tories are already hitting your new year 2018 finances where it hurts

Next Post
Theresa May Rail Fares Increase

It's only August, but the Tories are already hitting your new year 2018 finances where it hurts

Rees-Mogg SPOTY OTP

Jacob Rees-Mogg 'bookies' favourite to win BBC Sports Personality of the Year'

Theresa May Tories

Theresa May's government has been caught twisting the law to sue a cash-strapped fire service for £10m

Michael Gove Sheffield Trees

A court has ruled that a council's 'outrageous' policy is legal. And it's so bad even Michael Gove objects to it

James Chapman and David Davis

A former Tory adviser breaks ranks and dishes the dirt on senior Conservative links to the far right [TWEETS]

The British Museum just held an event with the Israeli embassy - and the Met police responded by repressing Palestine protesters
News

British Museum holds event with the Israeli embassy – so Met Police respond by repressing Palestine protesters

by The Canary
14 May 2025
EXPOSED: the public is paying for Keir Starmer's in-laws to live virtually rent-free in London
Analysis

EXPOSED: the public is paying for Keir Starmer’s in-laws to live virtually rent-free in London

by Ed Sykes
14 May 2025
People are coming together on 7 June to oppose Labour's DWP benefit cuts
News

People are coming together on 7 June to oppose Labour’s DWP benefit cuts

by The Canary
14 May 2025
Keir Starmer's 'Island of Strangers' speech: channeling the racist rhetoric of Enoch Powell
Opinion

Is Keir Starmer capable of killing?

by Jamie Driscoll
14 May 2025
As an ACTUAL GENOCIDE continues, its apologists come for Gary Lineker over an emoji
Opinion

As an ACTUAL GENOCIDE continues, its apologists come for Gary Lineker over an emoji

by Ed Sykes
14 May 2025
  • Contact
  • About & FAQ
  • Get our Daily News Email
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy

The Canary
PO Box 71199
LONDON
SE20 9EX

Canary Media Ltd – registered in England. Company registration number 09788095.

For guest posting, contact [email protected]

For other enquiries, contact: [email protected]

The Canary is owned and run by independent journalists and volunteers, NOT offshore billionaires.

You can write for us, or support us by making a regular or one-off donation.

© Canary Media Ltd 2024, all rights reserved | Website by Monster | Hosted by Krystal | Privacy Settings

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • UK
    • Global
    • Analysis
    • Trending
  • Editorial
  • Features
    • Features
    • Environment
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Money
    • Science
    • Business
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Sport & Gaming
  • Media
    • Video
    • Cartoons
  • Opinion

© 2023 Canary - Worker's co-op.

Before you go, have you seen...?

The British Museum just held an event with the Israeli embassy - and the Met police responded by repressing Palestine protesters
News
The Canary

British Museum holds event with the Israeli embassy – so Met Police respond by repressing Palestine protesters

EXPOSED: the public is paying for Keir Starmer's in-laws to live virtually rent-free in London
Analysis
Ed Sykes

EXPOSED: the public is paying for Keir Starmer’s in-laws to live virtually rent-free in London

People are coming together on 7 June to oppose Labour's DWP benefit cuts
News
The Canary

People are coming together on 7 June to oppose Labour’s DWP benefit cuts

Keir Starmer's 'Island of Strangers' speech: channeling the racist rhetoric of Enoch Powell
Opinion
Jamie Driscoll

Is Keir Starmer capable of killing?

ADVERTISEMENT
Business
Nathan Spears

When digital isn’t enough: why paper still matters in modern business

Tech
Nathan Spears

How Digital Addictions Are Formed in the Shadow of Large Platforms

Lifestyle
Nathan Spears

Recovery in the Sun: How the Canary Islands are Becoming a Wellness Tourism Hub