Angela Merkel’s intervention in the stand-off between the EU commission and Poland may well prove to be her greatest service to Europe (“Merkel warns of ‘spiral’ in Poland’s rule of law conflict with Brussels”, Report, October 23).
In unambiguously pointing to the need for dialogue to resolve the impasse, rather than confrontation and threats of retribution, the German chancellor has highlighted the importance of the search for a “middle way” — an approach that used to be what set the EU apart. Merkel has gone further, by acknowledging that the stand-off is symptomatic of a deeper problem “discussed in other member states”. Importantly, she has warned that “you can’t resolve big political differences through court cases”.
That is an extraordinarily honest insight. The EU has been chronically reluctant to critique what it is about and where it is going. It has backed off challenging itself on the existentially vexed question of rebalancing a centralist EU hegemony by giving more autonomy to member countries. It preferred institutional “mission creep”, and the safety of dead as ditchwater “consultations” with elites.
This approach did not pick up on the disenchanted and dissonant voices across member states, dismissing them as “populism”. That has now caught up with the EU establishment. Merkel points towards a way forward — the hard grind of dialogue rather than the less than mature rhetoric of threats and sanctions.
An honest engagement that is not choreographed from the centre may well provide the context for resolving the present crisis. It may also be the catharsis that the EU so urgently needs to reform and redefine itself and restore credibility and trust in its institutions. If it does so, it will be greatly to the credit of Merkel.
Ray Kinsella
Ashford, County Wicklow, Ireland