Europe - A Project of Generations
"Europe - A Project of Generations" by Roman Roobroeck
For more than 11 years now, EUSTORY has succeeded in engaging young people across Europe by carrying out historical research competitions. They raised a European public awareness among their members and weren’t afraid to pinpoint and discuss the more delicate matters. But most of all, they’ve created a true European family. This appealing concept has attracted many people over the years and after only a decade, the EUSTORY organization consists of 22 members. Of course, that was till recently. Because, as of this year, the first French EUSTORY history competition will be launched, and thus, France will become the 23th member of the organization.
On this occasion, Notre Europe (the French EUSTORY correspondents) organised a prestigious debate on the 14th November in Paris, in which six young Europeans discussed with two notable French elder statesmen, i.e. Jacques Delors (former president of the European Commission) and Valéry Giscard d’Estaing (former French President), "building Europe as a project of several generations". I had the great honor and privilege to be one of those six youngsters.
Now, over two weeks later, I can say that it was truthfully one of the greatest and most interesting experiences of my life; we discussed Europe from its founding fathers till today, the effect of history on the European Construction, the economic crisis as a threat to the European heritage and overcoming the political difficulties and differences to construct the Europe of tomorrow.
But it wasn’t until after the debate that I realized that we forgot to ask a very important question, a crucial point to the debate, and, in fact, the whole European idea: is Europe really, as the title of the debate suggests, a project of many generations? Can Europe be built on the shoulders of older generations, and, as time passes by, given to the newer ones to continue and improve its legacy? In other words: can Europe survive multiple generations, or will it evolve into a page of history as a failed utopian experiment, in which some statesmen hoped to create a ‘Union’ based on respect and solidarity?
One can spend hours discussing this hypothesis, and even then there would be no compromising answer. But for me, after two years of living European adventures and embracing the Eustorian madness, the answer is clear. In my opinion, we can in fact create a lasting Europe.
I believe that we can create a strong, stable and prosperous Europe. I believe that innovation, compromise, listening and constructive criticism can lift our states to unseen levels. I believe in the realization of more democratic supranational institutions. But in order to achieve all of these matters, we must listen to and take the advice of the older generations. As we do this, we make sure that we do not repeat the same mistakes that were made once.
To share the knowledge of the ones who came before us, is as important as trying to think of innovations and new solutions. That’s what makes this kind of debates so important: to discuss the things that went wrong in the past, and that could go wrong again if we don’t prevent it. These matters are beyond mere economic and political events, and by attending social, ecological and cultural, these debates have to infiltrate the people’s homes and make them realize that the European idea is not distant and unknown, it is not with little relevance to the day-to-day life, but it is carried by all of us and grows through our generation.
Valéry Giscard d’Estaing and Jacques Delors understand these things. They know that it is essential to share their views, that they have to inform people of their opinion as elder statesmen, because they realise that people like them will not always be around. In my opinion, all of this was mirrored quite well in the debate, although we didn’t ask them directly. They weren’t afraid to express their thoughts, often arguing with each other, because they don’t have elections or popularity to worry about. But even for all their differences and arguments, they still have one common central idea: believing in a brighter future for Europe by working together.
One day, when I’m old and feel myself slipping away, I hope that I can look at the world and see that our generation listened to the previous generation and thus preserved the European legacy. And when that day comes, we will proudly pass the banner to the next generation.
Roman Roobroeck is a member of the EUSTORY alumni network and former prize winner of the EUSTORY competition in Belgium.