Funny I should mention nationalism and protectionism just a few days ago. Yesterday’s summit of EU leader in Brussels reveal two worrisome developments: that the recession in Europe threatens to be more severe than in United States, and that the Western Europe has not quite yet come to terms with its commitments to the Central and Eastern parts of the EU. With Czech Republic holding the EU presidency, the war of words between Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek and the French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Hungary and Ukraine being on the verge of an economic collapse, EU’s future looks “interesting” – to use the words from a famous Chinese curse.
What is the greatest danger in all of this? It’s not the recession itself, of course – that will pass sooner or later. Nor is it the possibility of an EU “unity crisis” – that seems to be an ongoing problem. The greatest danger is that the neo-communists will take advantage of hard times and stir the emotions of those less fortunate to try to destroy the weaker democracies in Eastern Europe.
Tags: English