Jörg Meuthen, April 28, 2019, EU Unanimity Principle

Jörg Meuthen

EU Unanimity Principle

Facebook, Prof. Dr. Jörg Meuthen, April 28, 2019

[Jörg Meuthen is a national chairman of the Alternative für Deutschland and is the AfD’s lead candidate in this month’s European Parliament elections.]

Dear reader, many political events are fairly unspectacular, yet have for us citizens wide-ranging consequences – and indeed nothing good.

What is presently planned by the EU Commission in Brussels – and indeed widely unnoticed by the public, especially by the German public – is unfortunately once again precisely such as event.

And this time it’s really in a pickle. It’s especially about the question whether in the future other states are to be allowed to make decisions concerning money earned in Germany and other stability-oriented states. Yet it proceeds without further ado. Namely, there was until now in the EU concerning tax and social issues the principle of unanimity. This defends Germany from other countries being able to make, without Germany’s agreement, determinations which are detrimental to our country and thereby to the wealth of we, the citizens. This unanimity principle is the last bulwark within the EU against the redistributory wishes of the economically weak states. Germany in the past could block with a veto all that did not seem sensible (like every other state!).

Thus, there will now be a decision when it is according to the EU Commission. Henceforth, given the figures of this body, questions in the future shall be considered according to a definite majority principle which, after Brexit, will weaken the northern countries vis-à-vis the southern countries, to which France also belongs. The result makes it possible for the self-styled rescue Europeans à la Juncker to smooth the way for still much more redistribution from north to south within the EU. A further left-green dream becomes true.

Redistribution, that means nothing other than the money which you, dear reader, have hard-earned here in Germany shall be received somewhere else in the EU and there be expended.

An example of what will very quickly follow upon the doing away with the unanimity principle is the overt financing of the prevailing unemployment in the southern EU states – only one calls this offspring something other, namely, “European unemployment insurance”. Thus is no way to come to grips with the roots of the problem, the completely false design of the euro, of which the absence of a devaluation possibility between participating states leaves the economically weaker countries ever less competitive, cements the present unemployment and allows it to increase even further. What is ultimately wanted for other countries is the diligence of the worker in Germany. Precisely so, however, is the European project destroyed, since the more these redistribution-tormented people in the northern EU states see through this wretched trick, and then feel it in their own purse, just so will the discontent with this EU become the greater.

It is precisely that which we of the Alternative for Germany do not want. We want an EU of strong nations [Vaterländer] which solve in their own sovereignty all that is not actually better taken up in Brussels – with all the positive and negative consequences for the respective country.

This unity of decision and liability must be valid throughout the EU so as to avoid unrest between the individual countries. Unfortunately, this Juncker-Merkel-Macron EU continues in exactly the opposite direction, a fatal wrong way, which is to be stopped on May 26th.

It is time to stop this wrong way on May 26th. It is time for the AfD.

[Translated by Todd Martin]

European Election Program, 9th European Parliament 2019, Foreign Trade Policy

European Election Program

Program of the Alternative für Deutschland for Election

     of the 9th European Parliament 2019

3.4 Foreign Trade Policy

3.4 Foreign Trade Policy

The EU should manage a foreign economic policy that is aligned with the interests of the member states. To that before all pertains that the EU commits itself in the future to free trade and open markets. Protectionist efforts are to be repelled. The EU’s import restrictions, particularly in the non-tariff field, are to be dismantled. Export subventions are to be progressively eliminated so as to avoid distortions of competition. Since not all branches uniformly profit from free trade and globalization, European or national equalization measures should, if necessary, be taken up.  

Trade agreements are preferably to be concluded within the framework of the World Trade Organization (WTO), since they then provide the greatest advantages to all participants. Our standards for consumer and environmental protection and in the social area are thereby maintained. All agreements must be negotiated in transparent proceedings with the inclusion of business representatives and be ratified by the national parliaments. Investment agreements which protect the rights of European firms should be managed by the EU. The AfD thereby rejects the transfer of national sovereignty to private courts of arbitration. In so far as EU sanctions against third parties [Drittstaaten] have been undertaken, the sanctions are to be regularly tested for practicality and effectiveness. Conversely, the EU should take proportionate counter-measures against the unjustified trade limitations of third parties and secure the protection of intellectual property and the equal treatment of businesses.

The selling-off of technology firms to third parties is to be prevented by appropriate trade policy and other measures. Value-added chains and their technological know-how must be maintained. Foreign trade, security and development policy must be mutually adjusted. In cooperation with member states and international partners, the EU must guarantee the freedom of maritime and trade routes and thereby secure access to raw material, energy and sales markets.



[Translated by Todd Martin]

European Election Program, 9th European Parliament 2019, Development Policy

European Election Program

Program of the Alternative für Deutschland for Election

     of the 9th European Parliament 2019

3.3 Development Policy

3.3 Development Policy

The AfD’s goal is to return EU development policy again to the national level of the member states, with a coordinating role for the EU so as to avoid redundancy. The donation of development assistance concerns the principle of subsidiarity and the maintenance of the donor countries’ self-interest.

Development policy must be help for self-help. A sustained effort against poverty must be the result of steady economic development and the construction of educational systems and functioning state institutions. Private business initiative, a competitive work place and maintenance security are to be required. The recipient countries should be in a position to promote under their own power the formation of their economy and society.

Furthermore, arms exports to crisis regions, especially to despotic regimes, are to be immediately ended.

States in which corruption, nepotism and mismanagement predominate are to be excluded from development assistance. Budgetary assistance promotes waste of resources and is to be stopped. Nuclear powers such as China, India and Pakistan which are however also states which guarantee development assistance should not receive, as it always turns out, development assistance.

Free trade is the most practical and un-bureaucratic form of development assistance. The EU must therefore open its market to the goods and services of developing countries and end the export of subsidized products to developing countries. EU evaluation and donation procedures as well as standards and norms should not become trade secrets.

Development assistance must submit to a strict usage control and to a regular, independent evaluation of results. Humanitarian aid generally has no long-term development effect and is thus is not in the strict sense development assistance. Humanitarian aid should be the mission of the churches and welfare organizations. Financial aid to organizations which commit, support or favor terrorist action is to be immediately stopped.

[Translated by Todd Martin]