The European Union is undoubtedly the success story of the 20th century and its creation lead to numerous achievements and benefits. The European body is currently facing several challenges – Brexit, the refugee crisis, a wave of populism, Catalonia – and all these problems create a situation inimical to the European project, thinks Eckart Stratenschulte, professor at the Free University of Berlin and board member of the National German Foundation. He attended a debate organized in Chisinau by the Hanns Seidel Foundation, IPN reports.
Professor Stratenschulte said the EU is facing a „medical” problem. It is at a crossroads, where things can go one way or the other. He thinks, as any doctor would say, that any ailment can be treated, but if it’s severe enough it can lead to death. The German academician says that the root of all these illnesses is the same: national leaders’ unwillingness to work together because they choose individual paths that seem more attractive. However, the European family means a compromise that must be accepted by its members.
Eckart Stratenschulte noted that it is being argued increasingly often that way forward for each of the 27 EU members will be different. According to him, EU membership is an option and every now and then countries think whether it’s the best option or not. The British said no. Freedom to chose is a fundamental to European values. However, European integration is the only way to leave in harmony and peace with the EU countries.
The professor added that while the EU is undoubtedly the success story of the 20th century, we are living in the 21st century and there is a serious debate about the future of the European community. When it was created, this structure helped rebuild the post-war economies and consolidate countries around a single voice to be heard internationally. Nonetheless, when the EU started to expand, there haven’t been sufficient debates.
„When you are in a train, you will look out of the window and will see the train’s direction and everybody will think whether it’s the right direction for them or not. Because the opinions can differ, discussions are necessary to settle these differences, given the pressure of the current crises”, he explained.
Eckart Stratenschulte says the EU is still attractive, also for its own citizens, and Brexit has only boosted this attractiveness. He thinks that EU must focus on being attractive to its own citizens and then to others.
Igor Botan, director of the Association for Participatory Democracy ADEPT, said that the EU’s problems stem from many places, but the biggest issue is that it became so attractive that waves of migrants want to live in this wonderful land. The EU wasn’t ready for them and didn’t consider the dangers of being too attractive.
According to Botan, the EU remains a success despite its challenges in the 21st century. He isn’t sure about what would have happened to some countries without the EU. Botan said there are numerous examples that prove the benefits of the EU, especially for the ex-Communist countries.