While the economic crisis that affected the EU for almost a decade
seems to eventually be easing off, the continent is faced with another sort of
culmination; this time political.
With Brexit just around the
corner, which will propel not just Britain but the whole of Europe in uncharted
territory, plus several other member states having voted in populist and
euro-skeptic governments, many are bracing for more troubles ahead.
But before we get all too
gloomy and pessimistic, we must realize that we chose the democratic way. And
that is the most difficult, yet virtuous path to push for an ambitious project,
such as unifying countries that not until too many years ago were at war with
each other.
The EU is a work at progress
and just like any project, everything does not always go as planned or is just
plain sailing. Democracy itself is not a perfect system, yet it is the best
we've come up so far. It has its pros and cons and one of them is that various
factors can heavily influence public opinion, which as result can make
controversial decisions.
We should not let this
discourage us, however we owe to realize that the biggest problem that Europe
has is lack of leadership on continental level. We have created something
unique on this planet, a confederated union of a sort with huge economic
advantages that other continents aspire to achieve, yet although we know what
needs to be done to make it function better and fairer, few leaders will even
speak about it openly.
Is it fear of public opinion
which appears to be divided and not convinced, vested interests of the
established elites in each country, or foreign meddling? No matter what the
cause, Europe needs leaders and politicians that will be bold in their
pan-European vision, that in addition will find ways to convince their
counterparts across the continent.
Now it seems that only France
and Germany seem not just committed to the European project, but willing to
take the lead. However, Europe's economic powerhouse-Germany- has yet to act
decisively on such role, apart from punishing other EU members that do not
maintain a good record on their finances. Angela Merkel’s government has been
reluctant in pushing for necessary structural reforms across the block, or even
speak about further integration.
Perhaps Germany, just as most
other member states, still is only comfortable with the economic benefits that
the EU is offering and either not ready for deeper integration or avoiding it
to maintain a suitable to its interests’ status-quo.
In addition, it may simply do not want the responsibility of
leading such a diverse group of countries. Sadly, no other EU nation seems to
do so either.
However earlier this month, the
French President Emmanuel Macron, ahead of the European Parliament elections,
called for a "European Renaissance," proposing multiple new
institutions and a major conference to overhaul the Continent's political
structures. (Politico.eu)
These institutions will focus
on defence, policing and cyber-security, environmental and social protection,
trade policies and practices and finally the establishment of a "Conference
for Europe" by the end of the year. Its role will be to suggest a road-map
for change, built on input from citizen panels, academics, civil society and
religious representatives. (Politico.eu)
It is not the first time that
he openly focused on Europe in his public speeches, yet this time he did so in an
open letter to all citizens of the EU. Could this be an overambitious young
politician, an electoral political stunt, or a prelude of things to come? No
matter what, we need more national leaders to start calling to the European
public, in order to achieve a more continental public opinion and demos.
We need to be reminded that we
are not just citizens of our local communities, nations or regions, but of
something bigger too. So, if our national politicians focus on domestic issues
to win the European elections, then these elections are doomed to reflect
national, often petty and irrelevant to the continent, disarrays.
In this aspect Macron has got
it right. However, there is a problem. The protests of the "Yellow
Vests" in his country signify a public reluctance to change or reforms,
plus a social inequality that exists across Europe. If Macron fails to deal
successfully with this challenge, how then can he be able to push for reforms
across the EU?
Additionally, many countries do
not think the way the French do. France is a republic that chose a very
centrist approach to government, something that other nations lack or never
had, therefore they cannot accept the federal model that many pro-Europeans
like Macron are promoting.
The Visegrad group, or the
Hanseatic 2.0 League of nations, may find his proposals or his lead not of
their taste or interests. The first grouping alliance has many times so far
resisted pressure from the EU to take in more immigrants and help their southern
fellow states, in dealing with the refugee crisis.
While the second- the “Hansa,” have spent most of 2018
concentrating their energies on monetary union. Instead of more French-style
political integration, they stand for national responsibility over government
finances and the importance of sticking to spending rules.(Financial
Times)
Yet again none of these groups
have taken a leading role in the EU or proposed their own vision on the future
of Europe to the rest of the European citizens. Our continent is in danger of
fragmentation, or even disintegration to smaller unions, with just a statutory
and irrelevant EU still existing.
So how can any ambitious young
European politician promote a more centrist, federal model, reforms and
policies on a pan-European level? Of course, primarily he will have to convince
all countries and groups in the union, of the necessity of such reforms and the
beneficial impact they can have in every nation.
But to achieve that, he will
need to speak not as a French man, a Greek, a German or a Dutch, but as a
European who understands and respects all the different mentalities, cultures,
economies and sensitivities that comprise the EU.
President Macron may have all
these qualities, yet under his current role he can never successfully promote
them. He is the President of France and this limits him greatly. Yet as a top
EU official, such as the European Parliament or Commission President, someone
like Macron might have a chance, if only national governments again are willing
to listen and most importantly, stick with the agreements.
Consequently, Europe's openness
and democratic values delay greatly any progress or quick response to problems
that the continent is faced with. As the EU expands and takes in more nations,
the diversity is enhanced thus any consensus is an ever-bigger challenge. It
will need a very charismatic leader, to unify the quarreling Europeans.
But as things stand, no government
in Europe seems ready to accept a leading voice outside their ranks. So,
Macron's initiative may be finally the only way to have a cross-country
political leadership. Even if he fails in convincing the rest of the European
elites to accept all his proposals, if we can have leaders of every member
states taking in consideration and addressing the rest of the European citizens,
it is a good start.
Ultimately, we do need a
"Conference of Europe," the way Macron has suggested it. It is time
that our continent has its own established think-tank, civil society platform
and "agora," something that besides was the cornerstone of Europe's
first democracy; Ancient Greece.
Modern Europe lacks a physical
place outside the various online platforms, in which ordinary citizens and
thinkers, together with academics from all member states and of every
political, economic and social background or ideology, can gather.
A place where they can
collectively discuss their future, organize pan-European campaigns, network and
get to know more about the EU and its benefits, or the challenges that each
state is facing. And since no national or EU politician is willing to take the
lead in giving Europe a single voice, perhaps then it will be up to the
European Agora, to be the place of the formation of what Europe currently is
deprived of.