In a much-noticed article on X, the Slovenian politician Janez Janša has listed ten developments within the European Union that, in his opinion, hardly anyone would have thought possible when his country joined the EU. His accusation: Processes affecting democratic institutions, the media, elections, migration and energy policy have remained without serious consequences within the Union.
“When we decided to join the EU, no one could have imagined that it would be possible in one of its member states or in the Union as a whole without consequences,” Janša writes – and then gives ten examples.
Ten points against Brussels
First and foremost, Janša mentions the annulment of the presidential elections in Romania.
As a second point, he cites the discontinuation of an information programme at the national radio station in Hungary.
Thirdly, he refers to Poland, where the police have been sent to the Constitutional Court.
The fourth point concerns Slovenia itself: three weeks before an election, the leader of a party that was leading in the polls was imprisoned.
Janša again cites Poland as a fifth example. There, the national radio station was occupied by the police and its leadership was dismissed.
Sixthly, he refers to Slovenia, where the term of office of the management of the national broadcaster was terminated and then a purge of staff was carried out.
Janša cites Hungary in seventh place. There, members of the previous government were put in prison without the possibility of defence.
His eighth point is directed against Spain: Almost one million citizenships have been granted to illegal migrants there in a fast-track procedure.
Janša cites Germany as the ninth example. The country has closed a new nuclear power plant and at the same time built a gas pipeline to Russia.
Finally, the tenth point concerns European energy and climate policy. Janša criticises the fact that coal energy is being taxed while nuclear power plants are being closed and industrial plants are being relocated to countries with lower environmental standards under the pretext of saving the planet.
“An EU that must save itself from itself”
Janša’s criticism is thus not directed against a single decision of the European Union, but against a series of developments in different member states. His central accusation is that measures that would once have been considered hardly compatible with the democratic and political principles of the European Union can now take place within the EU without entailing corresponding consequences.
His list ranges from the annulment of elections to interference in public media and judicial institutions to migration, energy policy and the relocation of European industry.
His conclusion is correspondingly clear:
“An EU has emerged that must save itself from itself.”
