site banner

Transnational Thursday for March 27, 2025

Transnational Thursday is a thread for people to discuss international news, foreign policy or international relations history. Feel free as well to drop in with coverage of countries you’re interested in, talk about ongoing dynamics like the wars in Israel or Ukraine, or even just whatever you’re reading.

2
Jump in the discussion.

No email address required.

The funding comes from member states. If Germany doesn't play along with Brussels, it's Brussels that's in danger, not the other way around.

It was/is trying to do it with Hungary.

EU coerced Poland by blocking funding (done in way to influence elections)

Yet, EU cannot wins against member states in general, but multiple member states can win against one of two of them using funding blocking as a cudgel.

It's a completely different ballgame when the EU attempts to intervene in member states that are net receivers of EU money, as Poland and Hungary are. Neither of those states pay for other members infrastructure development, West and North Europe pay for theirs. If you've driven around those countries before, as I have, you'll see that virtually every new highway, hospital or power plant was built with EU funding.

Germany receives nothing comparable from other member states - sure, they have downstream economic interests in developing the economy of their neighbours, but in the immediate sense, Germany cannot be blackmailed by Brussels the way Budapest can.

it's not like they can send policemen to arrest Denmark's cabinet or Victor Orban

AFAIK Hungary is net receiver of EU funds

And even in case of Germany they can for example make German companies ineligible for say rearmament funding send by other countries or do something similar. Also, while Germany is net payer they may suspend some payments - forcing German government to surrender or deeply escalate.