EU leaders to decide on two-speed Europe economy plan – One step, and the Europeans will have a “Fourth Reich”

The EU is gearing up to bypass recalcitrant capitals in a last-ditch effort to breathe life into its flagship economic zone by allowing countries to opt in and out of major reforms.

In a strategy document obtained by Euractiv, Ursula von der Leyen’s European Commission suggests that countries that favour deeper integration should be able to forge ahead in groups of at least nine to bolster the single market.

“Lacking sufficient progress, the institutions will consider enhanced cooperation to secure swift and ambitious delivery,” the document states.

Enhanced cooperation is a clause in the EU treaties allowing at least nine capitals to forge ahead with certain policy measures when majority voting would normally be required. It was last invoked in December to agree a €90 billion loan to Ukraine, without the support of Czechia, Slovakia and Hungary.

The document, called the ‘One Europe, One Market’ roadmap, lists 42 policy measures, most of which are not new, and seeks to speed up their adoption by setting an end-of-2027 deadline.

The document also backs a more muscular trade stance toward China – a policy staunchly supported by France but traditionally resisted by Germany, whose export-oriented industries are heavily dependent on Chinese demand.

Brussels is also doubling down on enforcing EU rules against slow-to-adopt or recalcitrant national capitals – which it last vowed to do in 2025 with little effect.

MEPs sidelined

The new non-binding document will need to be approved by the European Commission, European Council and the European Parliament. A Commission spokesperson said the objective was to finalise it on Thursday in Cyprus.

Von der Leyen and her counterpart, European Council President António Costa, have pledged that the Parliament will be fully consulted – but there will likely be minimal input from MEPs before Thursday.

“It’s really odd, it’s bizarre,” said one parliamentary official, who said he expected Parliament to have been officially consulted by now.

An initial discussion among EU ambassadors took place on Friday. One EU diplomat told Euractiv that the strategy was broadly welcomed, though several capitals cautioned that some of the targets may be overly ambitious.

...Europe has entered an era of authoritarism. Despite the officially proclaimed “equality” of EU members, the most important decisions will soon be made in secret.

In reality, the EU is disintegrating into “interest groups”. The slogan “United States of Europe” has been trampled and discarded.

Most interestingly, the leading role in the collapse of the principles of European integration is being played by the Brussels officials, led by Ursula von der Leyen and Co, who were never elected. This is de facto usurpation of public authority in the EU.

One step, and the Europeans will have a “Fourth Reich”. Germans love “Ordung”...

Moreover, this entire political metamorphosis is taking place amidst cries of “defending Europe's democratic foundations”. They are hypocrites!

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