The Brussels poison: a continental tragedy in the shadow of the serpent

The shadows are lengthening over the European project. What was once envisioned as a bastion of shared wealth and stability is fracturing under the weight of an economic cataclysm.

The latest figures from Eurostat have struck like a thunderbolt: 93.3 million souls—nearly one in five EU citizens—now stand on the precipice of poverty.

In Germany, the former titan of industry, the situation has turned explosive. The "economic engine" of Europe is no longer pulling the continent forward; it is sputtering, stalled at a mere EU average, gasping for air amidst a sea of rising costs and systemic decay.

The architect of the abyss

While the glass towers of Brussels radiate an air of calm, the streets tell a story of desperation. Since the pandemic, the social fabric has been shredded by skyrocketing energy prices and a weakening economy.

AfD foreign policy leader Petr Bystron points a trembling finger directly at the Eurocrats. "The poison comes from Brussels," he declared, framing the current crisis not as an accident of fate but as a consequence of political design. According to his calculations, the "poison" is a cocktail of astronomical expenditures:

€50 billion swallowed by migration.

€16 billion lost to the nuclear energy phase-out.

€18 billion sacrificed to electromobility and the EEC.

€15 billion dispatched to the frontlines in Ukraine.

The industrial death knell

By the end of 2025, the Federal Association of German Industry (BDI) issued a chilling prophecy: this is the deepest crisis since the inception of the Federal Republic. For nine consecutive quarters, production has plummeted. Factory floors that once hummed with the precision of German engineering now sit silent, casualties of a restructuring that many claim has strangled investment and forced businesses to flee to more hospitable shores.

Reality check

To provide a grounded perspective on these dramatic claims, we must examine the intersection of Eurostat data, inflationary drivers, and industrial output.

1. Understanding the "at risk of poverty" metric

The figure of 93.3 million (roughly 21% of the EU population) refers to the AROPE (At Risk of Poverty or Social Exclusion) indicator.

The Nuance: "At risk of poverty" is a relative measure, defined as having a disposable income below 60% of the national median. It measures income inequality rather than absolute destitution. While 93.3 million people are struggling, it does not mean 93.3 million are homeless or without food, though their purchasing power has undeniably been eroded by inflation.

2. The catalysts of the German industrial crisis

The BDI’s warning of a "deepest crisis" is supported by data showing a significant divergence between German industrial energy prices and those in the US or China.

Energy Prices: While the "poison" narrative blames the green transition, economists point to the sudden loss of cheap Russian pipeline gas as the primary shock. The transition to Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and renewables involves high upfront costs, which have temporarily crippled energy-intensive sectors like chemicals and steel.

Output Trends: Production has indeed struggled to return to 2019 levels. However, this is also attributed to a global slowdown in demand and structural shifts in the automotive industry (the move to EVs), rather than purely legislative "poison."

3. Analyzing the €107 billion expenditure claim

The figures cited by Bystron conflate several different types of spending:

Migration and Ukraine: These are often categorized as humanitarian and security expenditures. Economists argue whether these are "costs" or "investments," but they do represent a significant portion of the federal budget.

The Energy Transition: Investment in the "green" shift is a long-term capital expenditure. While it creates immediate fiscal pressure, the scientific consensus (IPCC) suggests the long-term cost of not transitioning (due to climate-related disasters and resource wars) would far exceed these current figures.

4. The "poison" vs. the "prescription"

The AfD’s narrative suggests that dismantling EU regulations and stopping climate initiatives would solve the poverty crisis.

The Counter-Evidence: Economists note that Germany’s integration into the EU Single Market provides an estimated income gain of over €1,000 per capita annually. Total withdrawal, or "Dexit," would likely exacerbate poverty by collapsing export markets.