We Believe In European Solidarity!
Movement Profile
In times like these, times of crisis, creating a common European identity is often proposed as an answer or even a solution. Reacting to Europe’s financial crisis, big newspapers in Germany ask, “How much more can Germany take?” In Greece, people burn German flags because they believe that Berlin is imposing austerity measures on them and neglecting democratic principles. In such situations, the instant response for people who strongly support the European integration project is that we need a feeling of being European.
But does this feeling of being European not immediately lead to exclusivity all over again? In the end, isn’t being European the same as being German, Greek or French, but on a broader level? Do we not create a fortress Europe while believing that we’re overcoming old borders? For the Federation of Young European Greens, or FYEG, this controversy is very often brought up during debates about issues of identity.
FYEG was founded in 1988 in Belgium with the purpose of bringing together young environmental and Green political groups from all over Europe to encourage both mutual understanding and action in promoting a greener Europe. FYEG is now an umbrella for more than 35 organisations. It coordinates with party youth organisations and NGOs to push for Green demands. FYEG’s political work is targeted at the European level, but this work is not limited to lobbying the European Parliament. FYEG is also involved at the street level, running campaigns together with its member organisations.
European Identity = Fortress Europe?
The creation of a European identity, or any identity for that matter, invariably requires drawing a difference between “self” and those who do not share that identity. In essence, that person or group of people automatically establish an “other”. Often we look upon that other as a threat simply because they are different. At FYEG, we are convinced that European integration is a project that should transcend the notion of nation states and borders within Europe, and do this without establishing new borders that function only to socially construct a new self and new, threatening “other” – such as Muslims and immigrants.
We believe in a Europe that is built not on assimilation but on respect for diversity. Europe is a political construct of its own kind, not another nation state. The territory of Europe should always be subject to change by the people living here. The concept of “the European citizen” should also remain fluid, while the balance of state power in the European system should be constantly questioned and adjusted.
It is a fact that the European Union, with its border-patrol systems and detention centres for illegal immigrants, is creating a fortress Europe. The European Union border agency Frontex inhumanely treats people who try to enter the EU, be they as migrants or refugees. In the Dublin II Regulation, adopted in 2003, the European Union moved another step in this direction of isolation and general mistrust against people who try to enter Europe. Refugees can only apply for asylum in the state where they land. Another example is the treatment of third-country nationals and their limited freedom of movement inside the European Union. These examples need to be taken into consideration when talking about the development of a European identity. They show that in the struggle for European integration, we should not strive to build an exclusionary European identity.
Strong Democracy, Not Strong Identity
Rather than a common European identity, what actually is needed urgently in the European Union is reform that empowers European citizens and people who live in Europe so that they’re able to influence democratic decision-making. For this reform to take place, two steps are essential.
The first step is a Europe-wide commitment to the principle of solidarity. Without including people from even the lowest, socio-economic levels through direct democratic instruments, and also without political education, the European Union always will be considered a system that operates in Brussels, far away from citizens. The rights of minorities have to be respected.
Second, we need another debate about the future of the European Union. This debate should envisage another convent for the establishment of a European constitution. Through this constitution, the European Parliament should be strengthened. It needs to be given the right to initiative law, it needs to have more power vis-à-vis the European Commission and it needs to play a larger role in discussions over the euro crisis. A European constitution also should make the commission more efficient. For example, the commissioners need to be experts in their fields. Rather than one commissioner per member state, there should be a rotation system. In the future of the European Union, direct democracy must also play a crucial role so that citizens can directly influence decisions. The European Citizen’s Initiative is a good starting point. However, the barriers to make it successful are still quite high, with 1m signatures needed from at least seven member states. In the end, direct-democratic tools should directly influence decisions, not just provide advice for policymakers.
Solidarity Between People, Not States
For FYEG, European solidarity is always closely linked to the concept of solidarity between people, not nation states. The question that we need to answer now is not: “How can the Germans bail out the Greeks?” The question rather should be: “How is it still possible in our society that banks can privatise their profits and socialise their loses?” This latter problem can only be tackled if European citizens – as well as others from around the globe – organise around a feeling of solidarity. In times of globalisation, more and more realise that many people around the world have shared problems and that overcoming these problems requires a shared struggle. We need to think globally and act locally.
FYEG fights for a more social, ecological and democratic Europe. A strongly integrated Europe for us would also mean a Europe that is inclusive towards the “outside”. For this reason, Frontex should be abolished; migration policies should be made less-restrictive; EU trade policies should be seriously reformed; and democratic structures within the European Union should be renewed – not only for sake of EU citizens, but for people living in the EU generally.
FYEG encourages people to always question their concepts of identity. They should embrace European solidarity, not a shared identity in the sense of cultural or religious traditions.
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Tags: Movement Profile