TAE demands: Take the New Power Shifts into Account - Europe First!

The Taxpayers Association of Europe (TAE) is appalled by the recent economic and geopolitical developments by the United States.

Europe must respond quickly and unitedly to these challenges, TAE demands. Europe must prioritize its own interests more in all areas, including the production and supply of goods and services, research and development, and the protection of external borders.

Here are three examples:

1. Suspension of US military aid to Ukraine
   At the beginning of March, President Trump suspended military aid to Ukraine overnight, including a halt to US satellite reconnaissance. This had serious consequences for Ukraine’s defense capabilities.
   This example shows that one cannot rely on the use of systems, whether purchased or provided free of charge. This is especially true for the use of the GPS system, which belongs to the US government. Most countries rely on it, both for private and military use.
   So what if the President of the United States decides that we are no longer allowed to use GPS?
2. Storage of gold reserves in the USA
   EU countries like Germany store large portions of their national gold reserves in the USA. This has historical and monetary policy reasons.
   US President Trump has repeatedly expressed his displeasure with the independence of the US Federal Reserve (FED), for example when it comes to the pace or reduction of US interest rates. He wants to align the FED more closely with the Oval Office. So what if countries want to repatriate their gold reserves and this is deemed impermissible by the highest levels of the US? In the past, it was also not possible to physically inspect the gold reserves stored in the USA. For example, members of the German Bundestag were denied direct inspection and control.
3. Dependence on American weapons systems
   America is one of the leading nations in the production of weapons systems.

One example is the state-of-the-art US F-35 fighter jet. Germany, for example, has most recently ordered 35 of these jets. Even though many parts of the F-35 are manufactured outside the US, le legitimate question remains, given the digital access options, how to ensure that the jets cannot be accessed later by third parties and, in the worst case, how to effectively rule out a remote shutdown (“kill switch”). Another important question is whether the F-35 can only be operated with the US GPS system?   

TAE Approaches and Recommendations for Action:

• The European Galileo satellite system has so far been used primarily for civilian purposes. It is imperative that Galileo’s use be expanded to include military applications. All existing systems should be reviewed for compatibility and converted. When purchasing new systems, care should be taken to ensure that these systems can always be operated with Galileo.
• The gold reserves of EU countries should be brought back to Europe from the USA. At the very least, a complete inventory and audit must be ensured. The return of national gold reserves does not necessarily mean the reserves must be stored in one’s own country. The important thing is to ensure unrestricted access to them.
• In all procurement of important goods, it must be ensured that their use and application cannot be restricted by third parties. This particularly applies to highly sensitive areas such as defense.

 Europe and the EU should view the new global power shifts as an opportunity for realignment. Together we are strong. Europe First!