Europe – A Family

Does the enlarged, post-Lisbon European Union need a new narrative? Many find the founding father’s narratives of peace and prosperity increasingly scarce because they are taken for granted, especially by the younger generation. And globalisation alone cannot sufficiently explain and legitimize our Union - it is a phenomenon triggering manifold answers all over the world.

Europe – a family. This is, maybe, currently the most convincing narrative. On the one hand, if reflects well the current dealings and wheelings while we are struggling with the public debt crisis and an underlying structural crisis. On the other hand, it focuses directly on our identity – and not on deliverables (peace, prosperity) or circumstances (globalisation). And the EU is currently going through an identity crisis.

All families are different, of course. They have different patterns and structures, visions and dreams. So how would our European family statement look like?

Our European Dream is an inherent part of our identity. Is is open and integrative. A layer to complement our local, regional and national identities. In historical perspective, it is a new endeavour, never ventured before.

In our family, we can feel “united in diversity”. All members belong to each other, have a common background, a similar upbringing, a shared history. We have shared traditions and a set of family rules. We are united in our values like freedom, democracy, solidarity, equality, rule of law, human rights.

The European family is more than the “international community”. Our family makes each member stronger. Old concepts of sovereignty have lost their meaning. We know that our sovereignty can better be protected within the family. The EU strengthens our sovereignty because it leaves us with more options to act and also to react on crisis situations. The EU family helps in solidarity, but also has high expectations.

In our family, we are highly interdependent: whatever the family decides has direct effects on us, whatever helps the family is also of benefit for its members. Whenever we harm the interests of the others, we also do harm to ourselves.

We have trust and confidence in each other. We are proud of our shared achievements like free movement of people, goods and capital, a space without border controls and a shared currency. They stand for freedom, prosperity, openness and security.

In our family, there is closeness and intimacy. We have our little secrets, but it is difficult to keep them. Each family member has strengths and weaknesses. We mock each other, laugh or smile, criticise or even hurt each other. But we do not lose respect and love for each other.

We believe in the power of compromise, and we would not fight with each other. Instead, we talk, and also smaller and younger family members have their say. We are ready and willing to listen and understand. We overcome differences at the family table. Sometimes we exert peer pressure and form coalitions. We do not hold back the others on their joint endeavours, but rather would try to support them and join in. And we accept majority decisions.

The family stands together and is strong together. We accept individual decisions, but also suffer from divisions. For us, it is hard to accept when one group breaks away from the others. And we find it unnatural when one single member is outed or remains outside. European integration history has shown however that even such deadlocks can be overcome in the family.

The European Way of Life and the European pursuit of happiness imbue our family with magnetic power. Our neighbours want to join. Elsewhere in the world, our family is a source of inspiration. Many envy us, some try to imitate us. But none would succeed in copying us. For our family is unique.