The long process of European integration which resulted the creation of the European Union, is remarkable by many aspects. It was long considered as exemplary achievement for other similar project. Given the current political development in the EU member countries, pundits as well as analysts arguing that the process is now regressing and yet stabilizing.
Many reflect that when the European Central Bank was set up, its first president, Wim Duisenberg, introduced each of his colleagues by country of origin. But there was a twist to it. It had them hail not from their respective nation state, but from “Europe” instead, as if it were a country. Duisenberg wanted to make a point about collective responsibility and a commonness of vision.
This kind of team spirit now seems lost. Today, the German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz, a Social Democrat, says straightaway: “The German Minister of Finance is the German Minister of Finance,” even if he is in Brussels. And his colleague from The Netherlands, Wopke Hoekstra, bluntly examines the benefits of whichever European policy proposal solely based on what they yield for his home country.
Martin Hufner, Chief Economist of Germany’s HVB Group argued that this is a Copernican revolution of sorts. European nation states no longer seem to circulate around Europe, but increasingly again around themselves. Consequently, the hopes once associated with Europe as a community wanted primarily for peace, common values, common history and culture have receded. With that, the EU is on the way to a community of convenience that better enforces the interests of its members in the world.
According to Martin Hufner, the new rationale is as simple as it is entirely self-serving: If the EU serves one’s own people, a country’s government is for Europe, if that’s not the case, it is against. Great Britain’s Brexit comes down to the belief that the country will better be able to serve its interests on its own, rather than as part of the EU flotilla. Such crude nationalism is also flourishing elsewhere in Europe, such as in Hungary and in Poland.
Professor Chris Bickerton of Oxford University stated that this splittist mindset is also evident in other areas. Consider the various groups of EU members that have joined forces to form regional groups in order to give their national interests greater assertiveness. The “Hanseatic League,” headed by the Netherlands and including Ireland, Finland, the Baltics, Sweden and Denmark, was formed in opposition to Franco-German plans to reform the eurozone. The “Visegrad Four” group has been around for some time now. It includes Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Their main concern centers on defense and refugee policy.
Dr. Vivien Ann Schmidt noted that some also consider Germany and France, the proverbial “motor” of European integration, as one such group. However, Berlin and Paris vehemently deny any such “groupism.” Common interests also exist among the southern European countries. However, a formal group has not originated from this, at least not yet.
The euro has also played a role. Dr. Enrico Spolaore of Tufts University argued that Eurozone members felt from the beginning that they were privileged, sort of the spearhead of integration. They meet at many Council of Ministers meetings the evening before and agree on disputed points. The next morning, they introduce their agreement to the others as a fait accompli. This, of course, stirs up displeasure.
According to Dr. Enrico Spolaore, the latest factor in the rise of EU groupism is Brexit. With the likely departure of Great Britain, the country that is probably the leading liberal market voice in the EU is exiting. And indeed, once the UK is out, key voting mechanisms inside the EU, especially regarding the qualified majority voting items, change in terms of their internal composition. Together with U.K., Germany, the Netherlands, Austria and Finland, all countries with a liberal, market-oriented policy stance presently have a blocking minority of 35% in the European Council.
After Brexit, without the UK’s voting share, their voting percentage is reduced to 25%, which is not enough to veto any decisions. No wonder that some countries fear that they will forthwith be dominated by states in southern and central Europe. Hence the founding of the Hanseatic League, led by the Netherlands.
Martin Hufner asserted that contrary to joyful American and Asian voices that engage in anti-EU jeering, Europe will not fall apart. It is important to remember that a key motivation of these external critics is that they engage in their criticism to a large extent in a thinly veiled effort to cover up the internal stresses that they are exposed to in their home regions. Such as the incredible difficulty many United States policy thinkers have with squaring their global ambitions and their sense of President Donald Trump.
It is true that the emotional bond between the members of the EU is getting smaller. In addition, today’s EU is quite different from the EU-6. The formation of political will across such a large grouping becomes more difficult. Decisions take longer. The direction of the EU is also changing. The deepening of integration, which has been a high priority for a long time, is no longer a major goal. The community is becoming more decentralized. It cannot be ruled out either that current members other than the UK quit.
According to Martin Hufner considering the positives is imperative. First, the stronger southern orientation of the EU that many in the EU’s north feared due to the advent of Brexit, is effectively prevented by the Hanseatic League. Second, Germany and France, as the largest members of the community, no longer sit alone in the EU’s “driver’s seat.” They have to take considerably more consideration of the others. Third, the euro is losing its special status. It is no longer the highest form of integration and the center of the community. Sweden, Denmark as well as the Central and Eastern European countries that are not members of the euro are calling for greater consideration of their interests with good reason. Fourth, as a result of the less central role of the euro, the European Central Bank (ECB) is losing importance within the European institutional framework.
Moreover, after past experience, especially but not solely with Greece, it will no longer be rushed into taking anyone who wants to join the euro into the eurozone. But that, too, is not a mistake. Overall, the hope remains that, over time, the EU becomes more liberal, more pragmatic and more open to the world.
The current process of European integration
Talking Textiles
Born in beautiful Hanzu near Shanghi China, Anhua Qian has been working in textiles for the last 30 years. He is the owner and the president of ANTEX group. Headquartered in Shaghi, the group has investments in Vietnam, Spain, the United States and Italy and now in Ethiopia. Antex group is the first sportswear and apparel company in Adama Industrial Park. ANTEX group has created job opportunities for seven thousand people worldwide. After the company began producing apparels last October in Adama, the company exported the first batch of products to Italy worth 100 million USD. Capital got a chance to talk with the 55 year old Chinese investor about the textile business. Anhua talk to Capital about his investment in the country. Excerpts;
Capital: What got you interested in textiles?
Anhua Qian: Compared to the other businesses, textiles don’t require a huge investment. The textile industry was the basis of industrialization throughout the world. The industrial revolution that began in Britain was based in the textile industry, the same thing for China, Japan, Taiwan, and Korea, they began their industrialization through textiles. You see 34 years ago textiles made up 40 percent of China‘s exported goods. Now that figure has fallen to 20 percent.
Capital: What was your initial investment?
Anhua: I began investing in textiles with the minimum amount of capital required. When I left my job to invest in textiles, I had only USD 12,000. The most important factor is the exposure, and experience from the interpreter through the managerial level. I became involved in the state owned company Zhejiang Crafts import/export Corporation and that helped me more than the money.
Capital: What challenges the textile industry worldwide?
Anhua: The nature of textiles these days goes with fashion. This time quality, efficiency, and timeliness are highly needed in order to compete on the international market.
Capital: What is the Ethiopian investment climate like?
Anhua; Good, I came here to invest in your country because of my friend Alex, who previously worked in Ethiopia for another company. When I saw the country, I didn’t hesitate to invest in your beautiful country. A lot of opportunities occur here. The existence of competitive human power, the various international agreements signed by Ethiopia and other countries to avoid taxes make export attractive. Oh! the climate and the people are also another factor.
Capital: ANTEX recently exported its first products to Italy. What were the challenges?
Anhua: Efficiency is one of the challenges which is connected with the mindset of the employees. We exported apparel worth 100 USD using twenty five percent of our efficiency working only for 8 hours a day. We are beginners. We understand employees are new to the sector, and more training should be given.
Capital: What does textile sector looks like today?
Anhua: Like all other sectors, the textile industry is facing big changes, Internet technology means things need to be more efficient than before. Globalization and more technology are coming to the industry. As always understanding is the missing link within the industry not only understanding about new technology and new trends but understanding among the people in and outside textiles.
Capital: What challenges are you working on in Ethiopia?
Anhua: Yes challenges are there, the company began producing apparels October 12, 2018 and still there is no power supply and we are working via a generator. The problem with the generator is it doesn’t fully run the machines and it affects our efficiency. Petrol costs us a lot. Again there is no water supply still after three months. The other problem is transportation. The Adama Industrial Park is a bit far away from the city and there is no access to transportation for the 1,600 employees. They are obliged to walk more than five km every day which negatively impacts their efficiency.
For the government side the custom clearance system should be done in short period of time. Importing the raw materials from abroad take its own time.
Capital: Employees say the salaries are too low, what is the reason for this?
Anhua: Yes, I understand that, but all is connected to the company’s productivity. For the time being the company pays a basic salary of 750 birr, plus 100 birr for a new comer with no experience if they have full attendance, and 400 birr for transportation allowance and free food in the factory. Above all employees are encouraged to learn skills so they can be promoted to a higher level. We have the system of paying allowance and bonuses according to skills and efficiency.
Capital: What are your thoughts about Ethiopia?
Anhua: When was I assigned to my first job some thirty years ago, my salary was USD 5 a month. However, your people have a better start than the Chinese at that time, I fully believe in your future. Just avoid political violence, then you can achieve more within a short time.
A gallery fusing Art with interior design emerges in Addis
Maki Interior design and art gallery was opened last week around Bole Medhanealem combining art gallery, interior design, and indoor and outdoor plants store. The office which was founded y Maraki Tetemke will be open throughout the week and free of entry fee.
The founder Maraki learned her undergraduate degree and postgraduate with related fields with interior design and worked for the past eight years in various projects. She founded her new company before two months which they are working in various projects both in Addis and outside.
The office will also supply the interior decision items, besides the art pieces to be sold in the Gallery potion.
The unforgettable massacre of Addis Ababa
We observed last Tuesday, the 19th of February, the 82nd anniversary of the massacre of civilian Ethiopians in Addis Ababa. We give a special place in our heart to those who lost their lives cold bloodedly at the hands of the brutal Fascist invaders. This writer dedicated this piece in memory of the 30,000 civilian Ethiopians who were massacred indiscriminately by the Italian invading fascist force in 1937.
Italy who had no any colonial possessions in the early 19th century was running amok in need of one from the impoverished but resourceful continent, Africa. In 1911 this European country had to try its chance on Libya. The then Italian invading force in Tripoli, the capital of Libya, was “mad with lust for blood” … to say it in words of an observer. Ian Campbell, the renowned historian, states in one of his incisive accounts that “[a]ll the Arabs they met, men, women and children, even babes at the breast were shot down without trial” by the brutal Italian invading force. It was estimated that close to 4,000 Libyans were butchered by Italians over three days in October 1911.
As Europeans and Western powers were tantalized by the natural resources of the continent, no single country came to denounce the atrocities committed by the Italian invading force in Libya. Libyans cried for deliverance; but is was in vain. This undoubtedly encouraged Italy to come again after 26 years with its barbarity to the ancient African country, Ethiopia.
In February 1937 young Ethiopians who bitterly denounced the invasion and occupation of their country by the invading Italian force hurled grenades in an attempt to kill the Italian military commander, Rudolfo Graziani who was appointed by Mussolini to govern Ethiopia. This happened 82 years back in the center of Addis Ababa at an event organized by the Italians. While the commander, Graziani, was delivering speech to Ethiopians gathered around, the hurled grenades detonated. The Italian fascist soldiers who were enraged by the incident started firing directly at the crowd of Ethiopians. A number of people were killed and seriously wounded. This was the beginning of the massacre that was attested by many to be the worst ever heard in this planet. That time all exits of the compound were sealed off so that the innocent Ethiopians could not run off for their lives. Then, the blood lust Italian soldiers chopped off the Ethiopians. Campbell wrote the following: “Throughout the day, Italian soldiers… ran amok in the streets and suburbs of the city. They split the heads of Ethiopians with pickaxes and shovels. Every native was a target… Men, women and children were taken and killed indiscriminately and without explanation. Going home for lunch or stopping for a chat, unsuspecting and defenseless, they were ruthlessly struck down in broad daylight in the main streets… among the eucalyptus groves and the hedgerows, around market stalls, on bridges, in tiny lanes and narrow alleys.”
Unfortunately, the fascist Graziani survived the attack unscathed. No Italians were killed. But after the aborting assassination, the city transformed in to a butchering site. Addis Ababa was inundated by blood of the poor civilian Ethiopians. Some say that the invading Italian force perpetrated atrocities the worst of its kind in the 20th century. Campbell said that in three terror-filled days and nights of arson, murder and looting, thousands of innocent and unsuspecting men, women and children were roasted alive, shot, bludgeoned, stabbed to death, or blown to pieces with hand-grenades. Ethiopians suspected or accused of opposing Italian rule were rounded up and executed. “Meanwhile the notorious Rudolfo Graziani, infamous for his atrocities in Libya, took the opportunity to add the carnage by eliminating the intelligentsia and nobility of the ancient Ethiopian empire in a pogrom that swept across the land.” Bahiru Zewdie, a prominent historian wrote that the massacre marked the total liquidation of the intellectual component of the resistance. According to Campbell, the massacre was aimed “in particular at eliminating the Ethiopian nobility and intelligentsia”. Most of the 125 young men who had their education abroad were killed.
In this way the Italian soldiers took revenge on Ethiopians who had defeated their fathers at the battle of Adwa. They knew that their forefathers suffered humiliating defeat at the hands of Ethiopians 41 years ago. However, the Italians showed to the world in 1937 that they were not men enough to join the Ethiopian gallant force at the real battle grounds. The best war-front for Graziani and his soldiers was the then dilapidated Ethiopian capital city which was inhabited by women, children elderly citizens and other defenseless people.
Following the assassination attempt, Rudolfo Graziani gave his strict command to the fascist soldiers that they should slaughter or kill any Ethiopian they happen to see on their ways. “Remember,” he spoke out loud to his soldiers who carried their guns and sabers at the ready, “remember, you are Italians, Romans, and remember that your forebears were once in this country.” With his words echoing in their ears, the Italian soldiers slaughtered, burned alive, cut heads of many Ethiopians. Moans of crushed babies, disemboweled pregnant women and beheaded people echoed across the city… Many cottages were gutted down by fire. The blood stream was lapped up by truant dogs… The dead bodies were torn up by vultures and hyenas. Ethiopians bitterly cried being shrouded by black shadow of death. The Italian soldiers who are driven by a lust for blood killed the Ethiopians with daggers, shovels, axes, truncheons, pickaxes… Some posed on the dead bodies and decapitated heads of the victim Ethiopians to have their photographs taken. In the three-day massacre perpetrated by Italians, it was estimated that 19-20 per cent (close to 30,000 in number) of the people of the then Addis Ababa was eliminated. Campbell says that the civilian carnage perpetrated by the Italian force is “one of the most hideous civilian massacres of all the time to be concealed, and the perpetrators to walk free”.
The most surprising thing was that after the abortive attack launched by Ethiopians against the Italian invading force, Graziani received a strict commend from Duce (leader of the then Italy) to execute all prisoners. As an Ethiopian I feel here that it was far better for those compatriot prisoners to be killed (so long as it was their fate) than to be used for the purpose of shooting target practices by the barbarian Italian soldiers. This is my opinion. It doesn’t mean I am ruthless… but I suggest that. History gives its testimony that Ethiopian PoWs (prisoners of war) “were frequently used for target practice” by Italian soldiers. First, they were shot in the testicles and then in the chest. This was the real incident witnessed in this country in broad daylight.
Commonly we Ethiopians are not the kind of those who take revenge on evil doers. Even if we lost 30,000 civilian compatriots, we did not take revenge on Italians after liberation. The world attested the fact that Ethiopians did never raise their hands against the Italians who were strolling in their midst at the time. In his passionate speech delivered to its people, Emperor Haile-Silassie admonished the people not to repay evil with evil. “Take care not to spoil the good name of Ethiopia by acts that are worthy of the enemy,” Haile-Silassie urged. This reminds us of the same forgiveness given by Emperor Menelik-II to the Italian PoWs captured by Ethiopian warriors at the famous battle of Adwa. Menelik was compassionate for the Italian PoWs. History testifies that the Italian PoWs were not made to languish in prison cells. Instead they were given to the then prominent Ethiopian officials who were duty bound to abide by the imperial command to give shelter, clothing and food to the PoWs. This was our history we all Ethiopians should be proud of.
Available sources indicate that in its 1935-41 occupation of Ethiopia, the Italian fascist force has massacred one million Ethiopians; destroyed 2,000 churches as well as 525,000 residential houses and killed 14 million animals. I would like to seize this opportunity to announce my support to those who claim that Ethiopia deserves apology for the massacre perpetrated by Italy. I am also voicing my compliant that Ethiopians should be compensated well by the Italian government for the havoc.
By Haile-Gebriel Endeshaw
The writer can be reached at gizaw.haile@yahoo.com
