CrveniTalas
4th April 2013, 10:32
I am adding here an article that I wrote for my blog. I did not feel the need to go so deep into the theory and nature of the EU because I really feel that the numbers speak for themselves. If you want the sources of the data, you will have to go on my website. I hope that it is of use for comrades for talking with people about the 'bread and butter' issues of why the left-wing does not see the EU as a 'popular creation.'
European (Dis)union?
"According to a study by Germany's Federal Statistics Agency, Swedish private sector workers earn the highest wages in the European Union being paid €41.90 per hour on average. The next highest wages are earned by the Belgians (€40.40), the Danes (€39,50), the French (€34.90) and the Luxembourgers (€34.40). Other highly paid workers are the Germans, the Dutch, the Austrians and the Finns. At the very bottom of the list are the Bulgarian workers, who make only €3.70 per hour. Also close to the bottom are the Romanians (€4.50), the Lithuanians (€5.80), the Latvians (€6.20) and the Poles (€7.20).
These figures strikingly show the real divide that exists in the standard of living for European workers. In what sense can we talk about a “united Europe” when the average Swede earns more than ten times as much as the average Bulgarian?!
Let us look at the average prices of certain basic goods.
In Sweden, the average retail price of one liter of unleaded fuel on 3 April 2013 was €1.75. In Germany it was €1.63, while in Poland it cost €1.34 and in Bulgaria €1.35. Thus, a Swede pays only 1.3 times as much for fuel as a Bulgarian while earning 11 times as much per hour! In November 2012, the average household in Belgium paid €0.0582 per kWh of natural gas consumed while the average household in Bulgaria paid €0.0463. The average household in Portugal paid more for a Kilowatt-hour than an average British or French one.
In June 2011, 1000g of wheat flour cost €0.61 in Bulgaria and €0.80 in Romania compared to €1.03 in Austria (still less than twice as much as in Bulgaria). A box of Cornflakes cost €5.11 in Slovenia, but €3.13 in the Netherlands! In the same period, 1000g of fresh (not frozen) minced 100% beef cost €4.09 in Romania and €4.54 in the Netherlands. One liter of pasteurized milk cost €0.94 in Bulgaria and €1.03 in Romania, but only €0.82 in the United Kingdom and €0.65 in the Netherlands! The reason for this is because most countries in Western Europe have policies in place to protect their farmers through subsidies while forbidding governments in less developed Eastern Europe from doing the same.
The European Union is in its greatest crisis since its formation. Unemployment is at a record high of 12% since the Euro currency was introduced in 1999 (still there are differences between countries, for example it was just 5.4% in Germany but 26.3% in Spain in February 2013). Two Europes exist: one in the north and west, the other in the south and east. One is developed and stable, the other is underdeveloped and witnessing ever growing unrest. One dictates policies, the other stands at the mercy of the former’s will. Working people throughout Europe, especially in the ‘other’ Europe are rightfully starting to question the wisdom of remaining in a union in which they are at a clearly disadvantageous position.
The policies, social, economic and political, made by the European Union and its institutions are undemocratic. They reflect the interests of the bankers in Berlin and the bureaucrats in Brussels. It is against this sort of union that working people must stand up!"
Visit Commentariopolitica for other articles as well! Cheers!
European (Dis)union?
"According to a study by Germany's Federal Statistics Agency, Swedish private sector workers earn the highest wages in the European Union being paid €41.90 per hour on average. The next highest wages are earned by the Belgians (€40.40), the Danes (€39,50), the French (€34.90) and the Luxembourgers (€34.40). Other highly paid workers are the Germans, the Dutch, the Austrians and the Finns. At the very bottom of the list are the Bulgarian workers, who make only €3.70 per hour. Also close to the bottom are the Romanians (€4.50), the Lithuanians (€5.80), the Latvians (€6.20) and the Poles (€7.20).
These figures strikingly show the real divide that exists in the standard of living for European workers. In what sense can we talk about a “united Europe” when the average Swede earns more than ten times as much as the average Bulgarian?!
Let us look at the average prices of certain basic goods.
In Sweden, the average retail price of one liter of unleaded fuel on 3 April 2013 was €1.75. In Germany it was €1.63, while in Poland it cost €1.34 and in Bulgaria €1.35. Thus, a Swede pays only 1.3 times as much for fuel as a Bulgarian while earning 11 times as much per hour! In November 2012, the average household in Belgium paid €0.0582 per kWh of natural gas consumed while the average household in Bulgaria paid €0.0463. The average household in Portugal paid more for a Kilowatt-hour than an average British or French one.
In June 2011, 1000g of wheat flour cost €0.61 in Bulgaria and €0.80 in Romania compared to €1.03 in Austria (still less than twice as much as in Bulgaria). A box of Cornflakes cost €5.11 in Slovenia, but €3.13 in the Netherlands! In the same period, 1000g of fresh (not frozen) minced 100% beef cost €4.09 in Romania and €4.54 in the Netherlands. One liter of pasteurized milk cost €0.94 in Bulgaria and €1.03 in Romania, but only €0.82 in the United Kingdom and €0.65 in the Netherlands! The reason for this is because most countries in Western Europe have policies in place to protect their farmers through subsidies while forbidding governments in less developed Eastern Europe from doing the same.
The European Union is in its greatest crisis since its formation. Unemployment is at a record high of 12% since the Euro currency was introduced in 1999 (still there are differences between countries, for example it was just 5.4% in Germany but 26.3% in Spain in February 2013). Two Europes exist: one in the north and west, the other in the south and east. One is developed and stable, the other is underdeveloped and witnessing ever growing unrest. One dictates policies, the other stands at the mercy of the former’s will. Working people throughout Europe, especially in the ‘other’ Europe are rightfully starting to question the wisdom of remaining in a union in which they are at a clearly disadvantageous position.
The policies, social, economic and political, made by the European Union and its institutions are undemocratic. They reflect the interests of the bankers in Berlin and the bureaucrats in Brussels. It is against this sort of union that working people must stand up!"
Visit Commentariopolitica for other articles as well! Cheers!