CENTRALISATION FOR GERMANY
- EU REGIONALISM FOR OTHERS
INTRODUCTION: It was the victorious allies after the
second world war who broke up the German authoritarian state into a
federal structure of "Laender" or provincial states. Now the
German "political class" wish to restore central control -
at the very time when the EU under German control is forcing regionalism
onto other nation states. The break up of Czechoslovakia, the destruction
of Yugoslavia (both with the direct involvement of the German Government)
and the EU's "Committee of the Regions" all mimic the "regional
principle" enunciated by the Nazis who saw great centralising power
in the promotion of petty nationalistic and racist entities inside other
nation states (see Nazi regions on this site). Today the EU is making
large amounts of funding for the 10 new member states dependent on their
introducing regional policies and structures.
But here in this report translated by Edward Spalton
we see the opposite process being recommended for Germany. Not for the
first time the German political class thinks it has a right to ignore
what it imposes on others.
Date of Report 12 July 2003
Translated 12 July 2003
"Encrusted" German Constitution
to be Centralised
BERLIN/PARIS (own report) A grand coalition of government
and opposition parties is preparing to increase the centralisation of
the German state structure. The aim is the streamlining of the federal
system because "much decision making (..) is seen as too long and
too complicated". To achieve the desired new hierarchy the German
constitution must be altered. The present, many-layered structure is
designed to frustrate the return of a dictatorial or expansionist government.
Whilst Berlin centralises, German foreign policy demands ever further-reaching
decentralisation in the state
structures of its neighbours. Such plans for regionalisation have aroused
resistance in France.
In a paper of 8 July by the the Social Democrat parliamentary party
("Modernisation of the Federal Order") it is suggested that
preparations for the alteration of the German constitution should begin
in Autumn 2003. The responsibilities of the different levels of administration
should be "More clearly defined than before".
In particular, this is concerned with higher levels of authority for
central state activities which are more and more weighted towards other
countries. This is called "World internal policy" (Weltinnenpolitik)*.
By these restrictive and superfluous areas of activity would be delegated
downwards as part of "subsidiarity" . The two largest opposition
parties (Christian Democrats and Christian Social Union) are already
in basic agreement as the constitutional changes have already been under
discussion for several
months.
Federalism "restrictive"
On 18 June it was said in the Bundestag that the German constitution
was admittedly "part of the success story of West Germany from
1948 -1989". Nonetheless Social Democrat parliamentarians believe
that it is no longer to date. "In the meantime there are faults
and encrustations which increasingly frustrate the solution of the economic
and political problems of our time".
......but only in Germany
Whilst the "long and complicated" paths of decision making
between central and subordinate authorities need "modernising"
in Germany, Berlin regards them as "closer to the citizens"
or "democratic" when abroad. Several German foreign policy
front orgnisations are concentrating their efforts on France where they
call the central state "anachronistic". In the European Parliament
German MEPs especially demand that the continent should be reconstructed
in "Regions" in a "Federal Order".
Protests in France
The French government has now complied with German demands and brought
in far-reaching laws for regionalisation. These transfer many areas
of state competence to lower levels. This has provoked protests in France
which are to be express in a large demonstration in Paris, planned for
20 September.
Footnote * Within the context
of European affairs, it is not just Germany's Foreign Office which conducts
foreign policy. TFor instance the Transport Ministry deals directly
with its opposite numbers on the construction of strategic rail and
motorway links, German education authorities are pressing very successfully
for the German syllabus and curriculum to be adopted in schools and
universities of neighbouring countries, German funding has established
a "Central European Police Academy" where German is the medium
of instruction and so on. Numerous instances of these types of activities
are mentioned in this series of translations. It appears that the proposed
alterations will give government departments a freer hand in this sort
of activity .without the need to consult the governments of the"
"Laender". Parliamentary supervision of military matters has
already been weakened in the interests of "speedier decision making)".
See also
Background Reports "Federal Union of European Ethnic Groups"
"Regionalisation" in France - A "Ghost of German origin"
"National Co-ordination" of German Secret Service
SOURCES
Paper by Chairman of the Social Democrat Parliamentary Party ov 8 July
2003
Protocol of 51st session of the German Bundestag, 15. Voting period
18 June 2003
Appeal for the unity and indivisibility of the French Republic Communique
No.1
