The two-speed Europe concept means the end of our continent – The Weekly 79

Ever since the EU’s eastern enlargement in the 2000s, western politicians have repeatedly brought up the idea of a two-speed Europe whenever they were dissatisfied with the functioning of the Union. The plan has never seemed more realistic than today, but it has never been more dangerous, either. Let me make it clear: if the EU becomes a two-tier organization, it will mean the death of the community.

Long gone are the times when Europe was cut in half by an iron curtain and the Soviet pressure was quite palpable on the continent’s western side as well. A whole generation has grown up since then, and the memories of older politicians seem to have faded, too. On the other hand, we have never been so close to the return of the order that was already banished to the dark pages of history during the political system changes in Eastern and Central Europe. Sadly enough, the process is not only driven by Russia’s efforts but by certain tendencies within Europe, too.

Western fatigue, Eastern authoritarianism

Today’s Western Europe is undoubtedly characterized by some kind of enlargement fatigue, which is coupled with a certain scepticism about the integration of the newly-joined member states.

In a way, it is understandable, since many new members were unprepared for EU membership: they were not really ready to participate in the EU’s life, neither politically nor economically. In the meantime, several Central European countries began to show authoritarian tendencies, with their leaders taking more and more sure-footed steps toward a dictatorial regime. This process inevitably entails louder and louder voices urging for the division of the EU, which means that certain western politicians, who aim for the EU’s further federalization, are now forming a bizarre coalition with the far-right-leaning despots. This may appear as a win-win situation for them: the westerners intent on deepening the EU could finally “get rid of” the problematic, corrupt and dictatorial easterners, while the easterners could finally shake off any control of democracy and the rule of law.

This is the “two-speed Europe” concept, the biggest victim of which would be the population of Eastern and Central Europe: they would once again find themselves under the rule of increasingly isolated regimes and they would be deprived of any remaining chance of ever living as equal Europeans.

However, Europe’s division would mean a huge loss for the West, too: it would announce the ultimate failure of the EU’s fundamental concept for the whole world to hear.

This is what Moscow is waiting for

This announcement is eagerly anticipated in many points of the world, especially in Moscow, where the country’s leaders sent out two important draft agreements on 15 December: one to the United States and another to NATO. Although they contradict each other in some points, the two proposals have a key aspect in common: they both demand “security guarantees” which, if fulfilled, would inevitably lead to NATO’s self-annihilation and a fatally weakened western alliance.

Russia increasingly feels it’s time to return to the cold war world order by issuing a new Brezhnev Doctrine, cutting up Europe again and attaching the former Communist Bloc countries to its on sphere of influence.

Orbán and his friends, who have clearly become Russia’s Trojan horses in the European Union, would more than welcome this change, because the returning Russian control would mean they could operate their regime in any way they want. I’m sure there are some western people who shrug all this off, saying that the Hungarians or the Polish are not mature enough for democracy, let them go. I would like to pose an honest question to these western politicians: do they need a couple of other Belaruses right on their own borders?

I don’t think so. Just like the European unity has no alternative, either.

Europe has to stand up for itself and for its nations, without any delay and without any special speeds for different regions. If our continent fails to do so, it will be the end of what we struggled so much for during the past seventy years.