WE WANT TO BE TOGETHER

MIROSŁAW PIOTROWSKI

"We want to be together" - is the main message of the leaders of 27 European Union countries, who met in Brussels after the announcement of the result of the British referendum. Donald Tusk convened for the summit meeting of the European Council . Discussions were about two days. On the first day the meeting was attended by British Prime Minister David Cameron, that means that the Council debated in plenary session and consisted of 28 member countries. On the second day of the summit meeting, defined as informal, they met together without the British Prime Minister. They discussed the situation of the EU after Brexit. The problem, however, is that the formula of the meeting diverted from the provisions of the treaty. The Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union states that the Council shall meet without a representative of the state in his case, only when it formally notified of its intention to exit from the EU. United Kingdom has not yet done so, which may mean that the session of the second day of the summit meeting were non-treaty. Probably trying to get around this provision, Donald Tusk as head of the Council announced that the second day of the meeting would have an informal character. He did it at the last moment, and, what is interesting, is the fact that journalists operating during the summit meeting, accredited themselves for the two days of the formal summit meeting. But countries leaders wanted to be together, but without David Cameron. It is worth noting that the very British Prime Minister also wanted to be together. In the pre-referendum campaign he had strongly urged to remain within the European Union. Citizens decided differently, and he announced the subordination to their verdict. It can be assumed that despite the lofty declarations in the future the fate of Cameron may be shared by other leaders of the informal summit meeting. Citizens and politicians in Denmark, France, the Netherlands, Austria and the Czech Republic urge about organizing a similar referendum on the exit from the European Union. EU politicians who have established a media message are very afraid of that. They argue that the outcome of the British referendum aftermath is that both politicians and the media "lied for decades" about the disadvantages of the functioning of the European Union. It was stated so by the head of the European Commission Jean - Claude Juncker at the European Parliament summarizing the summit meeting of the Council. So, going this way, there is a fear that in other member states, independent media and some politicians overshoot the truth about the EU. And if so, it could be a disaster. Even the head of the liberals in the European Parliament Guy Verhofstadt noticed that, addressing the head of the Council: "What are you waiting for , Mr. Tusk? For the next referendum?" Europe must be reformed, a new vision must be presented to Europe's citizens." For now, however, neither Tusk nor Juncker even want to hear about the reform of the Union. They desire to deepen cooperation with those who suit them. They want to be together. The only question is how long.

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„Niedziela” 29/2016

Editor: Tygodnik Katolicki "Niedziela", ul. 3 Maja 12, 42-200 Czestochowa, Polska
Editor-in-chief: Fr Jaroslaw Grabowski • E-mail: redakcja@niedziela.pl