GERMANY’S BID FOR GREAT POWER STATUS THROUGH THE EU A SYNOPSIS OF A TALK GIVEN BY HORST TEUBERT, BY TOM McCARTNEY Herr Teubert’s talk under the above title was given first to an audience of many influential people at a House of Commons venue, earlier this year, then again at Marlborough, Wiltshire and at Derby. Mr Edward Spalton of Derby was instrumental in arranging for Herr Teubert to come over and give these talks, an I attended the Derby meeting. Edward kindly supplied me with a transcript of the full and lengthy text of the talk, from the web-site: www,freenations.freeuk.com/voiceshorstteubert2. html Synopsis of the introduction: perhaps we are witnessing a belated concern for the true nature of the ‘European Project’, and the British political class is now awakening to the horrendous historical implications of their actions. German eurofederalists rely on crises in ‘energy, terror and migration’ to help promote their agenda, and here they use the BBC, which the EU helps to finance, to promote their aims. Synopsis of the Talk: Herr Teubert indicates that his motivation in giving this critique of German foreign policy is based on his assessment of it as becoming increasingly contentious. Also he is very concerned by the rise of neo-nazism. At the beginning of this year, the German government took over the six-month Presidency of the EU. As well as providing opportunities for the advancement of German influence, this is seen as an opportunity to re-introduce the EU Constitution. It is thought that this would mean a Common EU foreign policy, and thereby German ambitions in this sphere would be promoted, to the exclusion of others, e.g. those of Great Britain. Also, the proposals for re-armament in the Constitution coincide with German plans. The influential independent German strategy planning group, the Bertelsmann Foundation (B.F.), has long pressed for ‘Superpower Europe’. A European army, under German influence, would have the nuclear potential of France and Great Britain at its disposal, so becoming of comparable status to the USA. Berlin now aims to push through the essential features of the Constitution, even by undemocratic means. When Berlin doesn’t get its own way, it can become threatening. One plan is to bring the component parts of the Constitution into effect piecemeal through multilateral treaties, without consulting the people. For example, just introducing a ‘European Foreign Minister’. An other suggestion is to reduce EU voting rights for any countries not ratifying the Constitution. Also suggested is the hold a EU-wide referendum on the issue, so negating British opposition. Another German planning group, The Foundation for policy Studies, has suggested that British opposition to this issue could be overcome by using the Euro-friendly BBC. As against that, the British print media are much more EU-sceptic, in the ratio of 8.2 against 2.75 (million editions). Britain is certainly seen as the main obsta cle by Berlin. In this connection, former Chancellor Schroeder has remarked that only the EU can provide the framework for lasting peace, freedom, welfare and democracy. Without further integration there will be the threat of war, destruction of freedom, poverty and dictatorship. As against this, a German MEP has warned against the build-up of EU alliances, ‘directed perhaps against France, but certainly against Great Britain’. Recently the B.F. (see above), has said that the EU could only be welded closer together if real or apparent external threats were included in political propaganda. Energy, terror and migration were suitable themes. Also it has pointed out that military force could be necessary for unification, as when Germany was united by such force in 1871. Requirements for German Industry: The means of continued supply of raw materials and also of oil and gas, are kept under continual review by their top government figures, including people from their Foreign Office and Economic Ministry, working in co-operation with their top industrial and business executives. The B.F. asserts that the formation of a Common EU Energy Strategy is essential, to ensure Germany’s energy supply. The German government has devised such a plan, for the EU to adopt. This will establish which parts of energy supply will be controlled by Brussels, and which by Berlin. The Common Energy Strategy will form the basis of a Common Foreign Policy, and become a common diplomatic approach to energy supplier countries. All of this will boost German influence abroad and weaken other influences. Special attention is devoted to the areas around the Caspian Sea, where there are vast energy reserves, and a new EU strategy is under construction for this area. Unfortunately, in that part of the world the Uzbekistan Security Forces in recent times massacred anti-government demonstrators, and as a result, EU sanctions were imposed on the Uzbeks. Berlin pressed for relatively weak sanctions, and then very soon broke even these. Then lately, Berlin pressed for a total lifting of sanctions, and as a result they have come into conflict with other EU states which support sanctions. The matter is still unresolved. The Russian connection. Russia is even more important for energy supplies than central Asia. At present, EU states import about 40 per cent of their natural gas supplies, and of that, 40 per cent comes from Russia. The EU Commission calculates that by 2030 the EU will need to import 70 per cent of its natural gas, and the Russian share of this will be 60 percent. This trend is then set to continue. In Germany it is thought that by 2020, Great Britain will have to import 90 percent of its gas, and so will also be dependent on Russia. The extreme right-wing National Democratic Party is gaining influence,, especially in the East. If EU developments are not to their liking, some politicians may use this as a means of bullying EU partners into submission. One spokesman has said that eastwards expansion of the EU is essential for security, and if this did not proceed, Germany might have to take in hand the stabilisation of Eastern Europe alone, ‘and in the traditional manner’. Chancellor Merkel has called for the ending of the need for unanimity in all matters before the European Council. With background briefings, and large public meetings, the German government is trying to arouse enthusiasm for, and nullify opposition against, German foreign policies in Europe. We have witnessed such attempts at mass indoctrination before, in support of misguided ambitions for expansion, and we have seen the terrible consequences, not least for the German people themselves. Horst Teubert is the editor of the German Journal, ‘Information about German Foreign Policy’. Web-site: www.german-foreign-policy.com