The British Green Party's Magid Magid arrived in Brussels two weeks ago to begin his term as a Member of European Parliament (MEP).
Upon arrival, new MEP Magid Magid was less than impressed with the European Union.
In an opinion editorial for Politico, Magid detailed his observations and impressions in his first two weeks in Brussels.
The new, pro-European Union MEP was eager to serve his constituents and work towards a more progressive Union.
Upon arrival, he was less than impressed:
"I felt duped: Making a tangible impact on constituents' lives is apparently not what being an MEP is all about."
Magid feels there is 'no guarantee' the European Union will last little beyond the next five years if it continues down its current path.
"This isn't the best moment in history to look away or to run out of answers."
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Quote from Magid Magid's opinion editorial for Politico on his first two weeks in the EU.[/caption]
Although Magid takes swipes at what he deems to be "far right" figures such as Italy's Matteo Salvini and England's Ann Widdecombe, his party echoes a parallel anti-establishment message.
Human Events' Raheem Kassam noted in his initial analysis of the EU Parliamentary elections back in May that the largest gains lie not within a singular side of the political spectrum. Instead we saw gains within vastly different parties, such as the Green and Brexit parties in the UK.
"Our institutions are plagued with convoluted customs, hidden handshakes and backdoor bargaining." - MEP Magid
The anti-establishment movement sweeping Europe and the globe is an increasingly bipartisan issue.
"We need more transparency in the way we make decisions. Our institutions are plagued with convoluted customs, hidden handshakes and backdoor bargaining," Magid writes.
"MEPs live in a bubble — one where we celebrate politicians who bailed out bankers, blamed migrants and imposed crippling levels of austerity."
Magid's largest concern is EU constituents do not seem to have "any clue what the European Union truly stands for — beyond a flag and an anthem — and more crucially, where it is heading."
"How can we reject the accusations leveled against the European elite that we are out of touch, when the top dogs in our Parliament and Commission are chosen through obscure quid-pro-quo arrangements agreed over Champagne and truffles in Brussels' finest hotel lobbies?"
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CC-BY-4.0: © European Union 2019 – Source: EP[/caption]
The freshman MEP explains any attempt to reform the European Union has been superficial and thus not resolved any real issues, only masked them.
"In Brussels, the go-to answer to a failed system is superficial; try a fresh coat of paint on crumbling walls. We have to be ready to burn down the house if necessary, to rebuild it in such a way that every citizen from Mansfield to Milan truly feels part of and represented by the EU."
"We need to build a Europe that is democratic, compassionate and gifted with an enlivened democratic mandate." - MEP Magid
Within two weeks of being a Member of European Parliament, Magid is calling for the real change he deems necessary:
"We need to build a Europe that is democratic, compassionate and gifted with an enlivened democratic mandate. We need a radically progressive program, one that puts our most vulnerable first, while protecting future generations from the climate crisis.
It's a reality we can make happen — and one I will fight for in my mandate, however long that may be."
With even the European Union's supporters calling for real change and reform, it may be time for the EU to reevaluate.
Sofia Carbone is a junior editor at Human Events
