The trouble with the EU

"Lost in translation": The ideal of Europe faces irrelevance, warn Spanish philosopher and Dutch politician

The idea of United Europe is gong through a deep crisis. This we have known for the past few years, especially following the Eurozone and the massive migration dramas. But intellectuals and statesmen alike are now ringing the alarm bell for the Union’s future—and in no uncertain terms.

Two interviews this week have brought the issue to front pages of European media.

José Antonio Marina. Photo: WikiMedia Commons

The first was given by Spanish philosopher and academic  José Antonio Marina at the launch of his latest treatise Tratado de Filosofia Zoom, which analyses the weaknesses of the European Project, as it has evolved, and proposes approaches for its solution.

For Marina, the problem lies with the Union’s institutions and its leaders’ lack of understanding of the ‘soul’ of Europe and of the Europeans. Brexit and the rise of nationalism and populism are, according to him, the effects and not the causes of the events we observe, and which challenge the sustainability of the EU system.

The philosopher blames for these ills the weakening of European education, which is neglecting the traditional emphasis on ‘critical thinking’—a core competence of the intellectuals and political decision makers, and a truly European science, since Antiquity. The result, says Marina, is that we tend to overlook the real issues and to fall into undue euphoria without measuring the consequences of moves, as it has been the case with the introduction of the Euro and the hasty enlargement towards the East.

His present main concern is with the inability of EU’s leadership to properly analyse the root of potentially grave issues, like striving for national sovereignty as in Britain and Eastern Europe, phobia with immigration from other continents, and the dehumanising supremacy of technology.

Artificial intelligence (‘AI’) is core to his concerns for the future of Europe and of humanity:

“At stake are those who would make short-term decisions: AI or the human brain,” warns the philosopher.

Technology is important and a driver for progress, he continues, but those in charge of the welfare of society should have a clear idea as to its uses. With American and Japanese firms leading the AI revolution at rapid pace, it will be soon too late to react and protect human involvement in productivity and in deciding on their own future.

The European Project at risk, really

Frans Timmermans - Photo: WikiMedia Commons

Speaking to French daily Ouest France, Frans Timmermans, 1^st Vice President of the European Commission, did not hide his disappointment with the direction the EU has taken in recent times. 

“The European Project may still fail,” said the Europhile politician during the interview, aimed at launching his book Fraternité (“Brotherhood”).

“Victor Hugo defined Brotherhood as a “collective duty”. It was at the time of the second industrial revolution. We are now experiencing the fourth [industrial revolution] and I feel that we are going through a similar phase. The ties within our society are broken,” said the Commission’s VP.

Timmermans, a socialist and former Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, has been a strong proponent of the European Communities and of their transformation into a Union, going beyond market and trade collaboration among its members. But he now seems to be alarmed by the palpable dissatisfaction of the European citizens. Key to such resentment appears to be the letting down of the middle classes.

“Our society is founded on the basis of a social contract signed, particularly, by the middle classes. The misunderstanding, especially among us socialists, is that sometimes we believe that it is better to proceed wit reforms bottom-up. Other think that reforms should be made top-down. No!--society is built from the centre!,” Timmermans told the French newspaper.

His fear is that demanding from the middle classes to always give without return to their contribution, or hope for betterment of their condition, is bound to force them look for alternatives.

“[The middle classes] have no longer faith [in this social contract]. They fear they will be dragged-down,” that is, towards the lowest common denominator: poverty, he explained.

Similar mistrust in respect to the system is rising also among the youth, believes Timmermans. His analysis points towards such disenchantment as justification for the gains made by populists, nationalists and Salafists in recent times among the young Europeans, who feel lack of belonging to the status quo.

Ethics and the Commission

Answering a question about the acceptance by former President of the Commission Manuel Barroso (Portugal) of an executive job with Goldman Sachs, a U.S. financial institution, Timmermans did not spare his disgust:

“[Actual Commission President] Jean-Clause Juncker and I are very affected [by this decision]. Do you think that either of us are in politics for the money? If one wants to make money, one gets a job in the private sector. How can one imagine this [job choice] by someone who has presided over the Commission during ten years and who has witnessed what Goldman Sachs has done? I can’t think of myself in a similar position. In politics, the example counts more than ever! Do you want that people talk about values? Behave appropriately. Be worthy of respect!”