Iratxe Osinaga Garate. CEO Legacy Abogados

In the European Dialogues event on June 18, in which the question surrounding

“A new narrative for Europe” was posed, we could hear Miguel Poiares Maduro

and José Manuel Durão Barroso exposing their vision of Europe: how the idea of

​​a Union emerged, its nature, surrounding issues, its advantages and where it is

going.

Like any story, the story began with optimism: Once upon a time a few neighbors

joined together so as to prevent any further losses (mainly human but also

economic) and to never repeat the atrocities committed in the Second World

War.

And so emerged the European Coal and Steel Community (Paris, 1951),

subsequently and progressively becoming the European Union of today.

Thus, the story of Europe began with enthusiasm and optimism, and for years

has been perceived as an enriching project in many ways, understood as a

community of countries that is inclusive, fair, free, egalitarian.

As the years have passed however, us Europeanists have lost interest in the

story. As well said by Durão Barroso, the greatest wealth of the European Union

has turned into its biggest problem: diversity. Diversity is not only cultural but also

political, and therefore to continue to build and strengthen a project with twenty-

eight perspectives is no easy task. This, coupled with a financial and social crisis

in which European citizens have lost confidence in the institutions, brings the

story of the European Union to an impasse.

The biggest obstacle that appears in this exciting story is the lack of a clear

objective, a lack of understanding of the common project, or effectively, an

understanding of where the European Union is heading?

We Europeanists have it clear: we need more political union, more political

equality, and more solidarity with Member States of the Union.

Although the end of the story is unknown, it is important to maintain interest,

awaken European citizens’ optimism and enthusiasm with which this project

began, and above all, it is necessary to tell the story clearly, so that European

citizens promote one “happily ever after.”

So if there really is a narrative for Europe, it is not understood.