Brussels, Belgium – July 1, 2024
This one definitely belongs to the unbelievable but true category. Senior European Union politicians in Brussels have declined to engage in discussions with the United Kingdom regarding a better post-Brexit agreement. The reason? The UK’s increasingly “woke” political direction, which is causing unease among the more conservative factions within the EU.
As the EU veers towards the extreme right and more restrictive society policies, anything woke becomes a political liability.
A Clash of Ideologies
The crux of the problem lies in the ideological divide between the two parties. The UK, under its new center-left government, has embraced woke policies. This shift towards wokeness has not sat well with some political factions in the European Union, which has seen a significant rise in far-right parties.
As the Acadamie Francaise struggles to find a suitable translation for the word woke, translators working in Brussels have been forbidden to use the word in the official gazette of the EU until compromise is reached.
The Acadamie Francaise has whittled it down to two contenders: conscientisé and éveillé.
Fear of Political Repercussions
European bureaucrats, many of whom enjoy lucrative and secure positions, are reportedly afraid of alienating the powerful far-right factions within the bloc. An anonymous senior EU official revealed, “It is a reality that liberal and progressive ideals are increasingly unwelcome in the EU. Engaging with the UK’s woke government could jeopardize the bedrock of the EU which is coalition and compromise, not schoolyard squabbling. We don’t want to provoke backlash from the far-right elements. Anyway the UK started it.”
No Room for Negotiation
This refusal to enter talks marks a dramatic change from the EU’s previous willingness to negotiate. Insiders suggest that the political landscape in Brussels has become so polarized that any move towards accommodating the UK’s progressive stance is seen as a threat to existing power dynamics. This reluctance simply underscores the growing ideological chasm within Europe between reactive and progressive movements. The EU long seen as a beacon of progressive social democracy has become a cauldron of reactionary elements.
Official Statements
Publicly, EU officials have cited “logistical challenges” and “ongoing internal assessments” as reasons for the delay in talks. However, behind closed doors, the fear of political repercussions is evident. “We can’t afford to be seen as aligning with a progressive woke government,” said one unnamed source. “The far-right factions hold too much sway, and any alignment with the UK could be politically disastrous, and cost me my job. I have children in private education.”
The Future of EU-UK Relations
The current impasse raises questions about the future of EU-UK relations. As the EU veers further to the right, the ideological gap with the UK’s progressive administration may continue to widen, making meaningful dialogue increasingly difficult.