In the early 1990s, communist Europe collapsed. The Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary -four countries on the western periphery - came together as a group. They were modernized and coordinated their efforts to join the EU, which they joined en masse in 2004.
This group of countries were once a beacon of hope for post-communist integration, but today it symbolizes the failure of the West to completely integrate Central and Eastern Europe. Across all four countries, leading politicians agitate heatedly against the EU, portraying it as an imposing, undemocratic force, and even as the second coming of the Soviet Union!
These countries consistently decline to follow the western mainstream, refusing to take in Muslim refugees, and regard democratic checks and balances as annoying hindrances to real men doing real politics.
A pertinent question now for Macron and Angela Merkel: What's in store for these rebel countries for 2018? What serious measures is the EU preparing to take to stop these problematic situations from escalating further?
I think we will have to wait and see.
Jos Edmond Zarb
Birkirkara