Merkel speaks out for two-speed Europe

EU Observer ^ | 2012.06.07 @ 09:29 | Honor Mahony

[Olog-hai]

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said she will use the gathering of EU leaders at the end of the month to push ahead with plans for a political union, including more sweeping powers to Brussels.

"We do not just need a currency union but also a so-called fiscal union—more common budget policy," she told Germany's ARD television early Thursday (7 June).

She emphasized that a political union was also necessary: "That means that step-by-step in the future we have to give up more powers to Europe and grant Europe more oversight possibilities."

While there has been a concerted effort over the last two years to make sure that all 27 member states are on board when it comes to further integration steps, Merkel said ambitious states should not be held up by recalcitrants. …

While Berlin has been leading the eurozone's aid response to troubled eurozone countries such as Greece, Ireland and Portugal, it is now also leading the debate on further political integration.

This push to give more powers to the EU level—part of Berlin's attempt to make sure countries keep their budgets in order in the future—is likely to expose deep fault lines among member states.

France's response will be of particular interest.

Traditionally, the Franco-German engine has driven the EU forward. However, when it comes to the details, Paris has always been reluctant to give over-arching powers to the European Commission.

[Uncle Ike]

So, her idea is to ‘fix’ something that’s complicated, cumbersome, and unweildy - by making it more complicated, cumbersome, and unweildy...

She’d feel right at home in the Obama Administration - or the DNC...

[Kozak]

Remember the PLAN was to institute the Euro to create a “ beneficial “ crisis to force the countries to give up their sovereignty. It’s worked like a charm. Welcome to the EUSSR.