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Back to Europa, ¿un gigantesco museo?

Francisco Pérez-Latre, Professor of Communication, University of Navarra, Spain School

Europe, a gigantic museum?

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 09:22:01 +0000 Published in Sur Newspaper, Las Provincias, Diario Montañes, El Norte de Castilla

Europe's historical achievements are truly impressive. Without wishing to be exhaustive, they include freedom of religion and opinion; parliamentary control of the state; separation of powers; human rights. Europe exported them first to the United States, and then to the whole world, where they serve as source of reference letter and inspiration. But now the "old continent" seems to have lost the momentum of its founding ideals, and runs the risk of becoming a kind of gigantic museum that is barely relevant in the international context. Some look with interest at the examples of Switzerland and Norway, European economies that seem to function well without the Union.

There is no doubt that we are living through decisive days for the European project . At the December summit, there was open talk of refounding. The Commission is approaching a consensus to work on a new treaty. After the Franco-German summit, there is open talk of refounding, and the Commission has reached a broad consensus to work on a new treaty. It is also said that a common fiscal policy is essential and that we are now closer. This is good news, but it cannot hide the fact that there is still much to be done, because the new Europe must be based not only on laws, politics and Economics but also on a widely shared project and vision.

2011 showed that the economic and political crisis is also a crisis of values, with its aftermath of speculation and corruption. Finance, banks and real estate speculation multiply the debts of nations. As we look for more productive and less speculative models, it seems clear that Europeans are united by more than the common currency. The euro has been a success because it is a way of bringing Europeans closer to each other, following the logic of the free movement of people and capital that offers so many advantages to citizens. But the euro alone does not make the Union. If only national economic and political interests are defended, the European project will not survive. The instructions of the European Union cannot be simply economic.


Innovation crisis

The current crisis is having a devastating effect on economies and families, but it can also act as a catalyst for the best energies of Europeans, who need to confront these problems with imagination and creativity, seeking innovative responses. Perhaps the crisis will serve to accelerate transformations that should no longer be postponed.

In addition to the crisis of values, which requires common responses, there is a crisis of innovation. Where are the continent's Google and Apple? Europe is suffering from an economic crisis, but above all it has stopped innovating and seems bureaucratized, disillusioned and numb in its well-being and wealth. It therefore lacks the necessary creativity, and is unable to mobilize its own people. Here again, the market is necessary, but not sufficient.

We have seen how European governments (and that of the United States) have invested huge amounts of money to save financial institutions that were considered too big to fail. Is the Union also willing to invest in common foundations and ideals that go beyond finance and Economics?

Betting on training

In the process of re-founding Europe on more solid foundations, the training will play an essential role. The Education enables citizens to cope with the transformations brought about by the crisis, turning it into an opportunity to innovate and shed bad habits. In the context of the crisis, the goal is about creating a culture of effort among citizens, together with the necessary levels of well-being and wealth. Some European educational experiences (such as that of Finland, where all primary school teachers have done a master's degree) show that this can be demanded. It is the best service we can provide to the next generations of European citizens. Since our young people lack a safe employment , let's try to give them a safe training .

Europe is a great project that has to excite its citizens again. It is a fascinating challenge because what it needs are higher and better ideals. The Commission's proposal "Creative Europe", with generous funding for talent and the arts, is a step in the right direction. It is a time for great leaders with a truly inclusive project (as were Adenauer, Monnet, De Gasperi or Schumann). Europe is not just the European Union: it is, above all, a set of ideas that have made the world better. It is a hope for the world, provided it is able to overcome its sclerosis.