East-West Fracture in EU Reminds Why You Need Gold In Your Portfolio

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Last Updated on: 27th December 2017, 11:08 am

Photo Courtesy of Farmers Weekly

This past week saw a watershed moment in EU internal affairs that could have major repercussions in the future. The President Andrzej Duda of Poland signed into law a package of judicial reforms that had been controversial in Europe. Hours before he did this, the European Commission retaliated by beginning to enact a serious sanctions regime that they had never before used. Analysts have referred to this as the “nuclear option.”

The unveiling of this sanctions package and the fractures that underlie it remind why you need to have gold in your retirement portfolio. Gold is the historically proven safe haven hedge that protects against market decline. It is why gold still glitters for many world leaders and why gold makes sense in an IRA.

EU Unleashes Nuclear Option on Poland

It was actually the European Commission that called on the various national governments to take action. They are requesting the member states to enforce discipline on Poland because it has strayed from the important democratic values of the EU block.

This is unprecedented because the commission has never opened such serious proceedings against a member state before. In the end, the consequences for Poland could include the loss of Polish voting rights in the EU as well as serious economic penalties.

The justification from the European Commission for starting such a process came down to the belief that the government of Poland is threatening the rule of law and democratic values. This led them to open Article 7 from the EU treaty proceedings. It remains to be seen if the process will truly result in Poland losing decision-making powers. Principal Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans stated that:

“Within a period of two years, a significant number of laws have been adopted, which put at serious risk independence of the judiciary and the separation of powers in Poland. The commissions can now only conclude that there is a clear risk of a serious breach of the rule of law by Poland… This is not just about Poland. It's about the EU as a whole, about who we are.”

Yet such a decision heralds a major split within the European Union itself. Major Western powers led by France's President Emmanuel Macron and Germany's Angela Merkel are solidly behind it. It demonstrates how the level of trust has substantially deteriorated between the largest Western states and the Eastern members.

It also reveals how the European Union has moved its focus away from its banking woes and immigration crises on to the rising populist trend that has rejected many of the values of the group. Poland is not the only member country they are sending a message to with this action. The decision to move forward is also a warning to the government of Hungary. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has pushed for reducing the liberal framework that underlies what is still the largest trading group on the planet.

The consequences for Poland could include financial punishments as well as their potentially lost voting rights. Yet despite this, Polish President Duda signed the group of bills that he had helped to draft in part. He proceeded to defend his choice and the legal changes by arguing that the judicial system of Poland will actually be more democratic after they come into effect.

His argument is based on the practice within the United States. American Supreme Court justices are first nominated by the President and also must be approved by the Senate. Duda has consistently argued that it is not reasonable for the EU to intervene in a process designed to ensure judges become accountable to Polish politicians. Unsurprisingly, the Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki supported this argument with his statement:

“Poland values rule of law highly, just like the EU. Judicial reform in Poland is necessary. We need openness and fairness in dialog between Warsaw and the Commission.”

President Duda also argued that the laws have been significantly improved since they were first controversially introduced. Now the bills concentrate on laws that will require two fifths of sitting Supreme Court Justices to retire. Politicians will then have influence on subsequent appointments to the court.

Hungary Responds to EU with Its Own Ultimatum

Yet the EU is not having it all their own way with the disciplinary Polish sanctions proceedings. Hungary's Prime Minister Orban actually recommended the commission forget its intention to punish Poland for not upholding their democratic values. He alluded to the Hungarian right to stop the procedure with his Kossuth radio interview:

“It's not even worth starting the process against Poland as there's no real chance to carry it through. Hungary will be there and form a road block they can't get around.”

His reasons for doing this are not merely for self interest in hoping that Poland may one day return the favor should Hungary be singled out either. Hungary's Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjen warned about how it is not fair for a government that the people elected democratically to be punished by the EC with:

“Both the Hungarian-Polish friendship and the Hungarian government's commitment to treaties bind us to oppose the commission's move.”

Hungary has its share of critics who claim that Orban has been building an “illiberal state” in the media and judicial branches dating back to 2010. Yet the country has managed to steer clear of major EU punishments to date.

Can Hungary Block the Proceedings?

Hungary is not merely bluffing with its threat to block the EU proceedings. In order for the block to put sanctions on one of its own members, they must have complete support from all other 27 EU state leaders. This means that Hungary by itself can stop the Article 7 proceedings alone.

Where the EU may be able to punish Poland despite Hungary's best efforts is in the upcoming negotiations for aid over the 2021-2027 budget. This must be negotiated and is not easy to veto.

The two nations are also undergoing other legal proceedings from the EU on various issues which include their environmental policies and treatment of their civil groups. Yet Hungary's Orban has pledged to continue arguing its rights to obtain economic convergence aid with or without meeting rule of law conditions.

Potential Impacts on Poland

The potential impacts on Poland are significant. The EU has given them three months in which they can rectify reforms to the judicial systems. After this, the country's future aid from 2021-2027 will be called into question.

Poland has been the largest beneficiary from European Union aid. It has averaged approximately $11.8 billion (10 billion euros) since the nation first became an EU member back in 2004. This graph shows how they do compared to other members:

Graph Courtesy of The Telegraph

Credit Agricole Chief Economist Jakub Borowski has warned that this will create a cloud of uncertainty over Poland and the EU region in general for some time, with:

“This is the beginning of a long procedure, whose impact on foreign direct investment flows to Poland, investment climate, EU funds allocation within the next budget period, zloty, and bonds is highly uncertain.”

Erosion in Cohesion of the EU Represents a Threat to Your Portfolio

The tensions over Poland's battles are also revealing cracks in the EU alliance that threaten instability for the world economy too. Poland and Hungary are not alone in the EU. They are members of a block within the block called the Visegrad 4. The Czech Republic and Slovakia stand with them. Austria has been pulled into a closer orbit as well since the election of Sebastian Kurz this fall too.

The European Union remains the world's biggest trading block. Its integrity and ability to overcome its many problems are a significant threat to the global economy. This is why you need to be aware of IRA-approved gold and the various other IRA-approved metals that can safeguard your retirement portfolio. Think about the top 5 gold coins for investors before a geopolitical trend such as the problems within the EU drive prices higher.

David Crowder
David Crowder

W.D. Crowder is an American published author. His background and areas of expertise include history, economics, expatriate living, international relations, investments and personal finance. A widely read and top of his class graduate of Stetson University, he obtained his bachelor of arts degree in History with minors in Latin American Studies and International Relations and a special emphasis in Economics. He was President of his Phi Alpha Theta (National History Honors Fraternity) Stetson University chapter and a Phi Beta Kappa (National Honors Fraternity) member.

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