Israel’s genocide in Gaza persists, while the war in Ukraine continues with no negotiated settlement in sight. As Europe rearms and Britain expands its nuclear capabilities, CAROL TURNER reviews the alternatives
LAST week French President Emmanuel Macron chose the Berlin Global Dialogue meeting to argue for an even more deregulated European Union.
France and Germany were traditionally united in insisting on a level playing field and competition rules to prevent the weaker and less industrialised economies of the EU from “unfairly” competing on pay, conditions and labour standards.
US tariffs have had Von der Leyen bowing in submission, while comments from the former European Central Bank leader call for more European political integration and less individual state sovereignty. All this adds up to more pain and austerity ahead, argues NICK WRIGHT
Starmer sabotaged Labour with his second referendum campaign, mobilising a liberal backlash that sincerely felt progressive ideals were at stake — but the EU was then and is now an entity Britain should have nothing to do with, explains NICK WRIGHT
In the first half of a two-part article, PETER MERTENS looks at how Nato’s €800 billion ‘Readiness 2030’ plan serves Washington’s pivot to the Pacific, forcing Europeans to dismantle social security and slash pensions to fund it



