Europe may be incapable of turning back from its terrible foreign policy

It needs to get back to the intergovernmentalism that made it a success, and strip out its unelected warmongers

On Monday I caught up with Pascal Lottaz of Neutrality Studies, meeting for the first time Jan Oberg. We had a fairly wide ranging discussion, which largely centred around the intellectual vacuum in Brussels that is driving Europe’s currently self-defeating foreign policy.

It was this discussion that prompted my article on Europe’s need to reform or die. I say that as someone who is avowedly pro-European and in favour of the four freedoms which played a major role in delivering peace after the devastation of World War II.

We need to get back to the real meaning of ever closer union between the peoples of Europe, and walk away from the endless fascination with seeker closer, undemocratic political union that increasing numbers of European citizens are turning their backs on. That also requires a recognition of the need to have a more function relationship with Russia which, whether we like it or not, is vital both to European peace and, potentially prosperity.

I hope you enjoy the discussion.