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Last week the leader of the liberal ALDE European Parliament political group, Guy Verhofstadt, outlined his soon-to-be-presented report on the amendment of the EU treaties. As you might expect from a federalist, he wants to move to a real European government, but at the same time he does introduce the possibility of an associate membership for those countries which see no advantage to such a federal Europe. That would offer, to the Netherlands as well as other member states, the chance to opt out of certain matters, such as the United Kingdom already enjoys, for example in the area of justice, This fits nicely with the SP’s own programme, so it’s certainly worth studying.

Verhofstadt wouldn’t be Verhofstadt if he didn’t want to take a ‘great leap forward’ when it comes to the EU. The European Commission must become a European government, with a Finance Minister who would raise European taxes. Areas over which the EU has as things stand no say, such as energy, taxation, the labour market, pensions, foreign policy and defence, must as quickly as possible be added to the list of European competences. And the Council of Ministers can disappear and merge into a sort of Upper House alongside the European Parliament. In Verhofstadt’s view we would be best calling this model ‘federal’, because according to him it should be the United States of Europe.

The amount of comment on the aversion felt by so many citizens of EU member states to any kind of interference from Brussels grows ever greater. With a Grexit and a Brexit, the EU could even be on the point of imploding. The SP’s analysis points to the probability that if Brussels doesn’t back off a little, the ship that is the European project will hit the rocks, because people will no longer accept the EU’s meddling. Verhofstadt has learnt nothing from this, as he simply pushes on. This will be all down to the interests of big corporations, which he consistently represents. They care nothing for public opinion, simply wanting a big, stable market and seeing a federal Europe as more of an opportunity than a threat.

Despite this, during his presentation last week in the European Parliament Budgetary Control Committee, Verhofstadt turned out not to be completely out of touch. He acknowledged that there could be member states for which a federal Europe would be a bridge too far. These would therefore be able to opt for associate membership. This would certainly create possibilities. We would be able to keep our public services safe from any attack by going for an opt out, or in other words, simply not accepting it. We have just as little need for a European army or a European Public Prosecutor, and as for European taxes, we certainly don’t want those.

Verhofstadt launched the idea primarily to cater for the UK, but in contrast to what he probably thinks, the proposal also proves to be attractive to many other member states which are saying ‘no’ to this EU. A great deal remains unclear. As an associate member would you retain just as much of a say over areas in which you do take part? When it comes to the question of opt outs, will you be able to take part in the debate and only in retrospect, after decisions are taken, decide whether you will participate, as the UK is now doing. These are all complicated questions, but however that may be, the time for a fundamental rethink regarding the EU is certainly upon us, even without Grexit and Brexit, and all thanks to a report from Verhofstadt. Who would ever have thought it?