Views on the European Union across Europe

It is one of the most important international organizations of our era. Created as a peacebuilder and participating in decision-making through the European Parliament, it mainly offers freedom, security, and justice without internal borders; combats discrimination; and enhances economic cohesion and solidarity among member states. Nowadays, twenty-seven years later from its foundation, people along the continent started questioning their measures and work means.

On the 31st of January 2020, Great Britain officially left the European Union. Now, the country entered an 11-month transition period. This means they are still obeying the EU rules. The decision, approved and rejected by citizens, woke up the international organization and the world as a lot of people started representing the idea of publicly claiming to their authorities to do the same thing. The effects of that choice for the UK can not be well determined or valued by the transition period, and by the appearance of the COVID-19. But, when life returns to normality, people will ask these kinds of questions again: what is the role of the European Union? Is it too weak? Do their decisions impact society? The implemented rules or sanctions are equal for all the nations? Do all countries have the same level of participation in the debates?

Germany is the largest economic contributor in Europe, followed by France, the UK, and Italy. Also, it is one of the most exporting countries in the world. But, the citizens, don't take this into account, and only focus on the big contribution of taxes that their home-country gives to the European economý. They feel that most of the European Union member States take advantage of the situation as "we pay for countries that contribute less, and receive more", says a man from Hamburg. Some people think that the funds are actually awarded to third world countries, or that the organization meddles too much, others think that it is a weak entity. A German citizen said "I think people are sick of the EU" and that "each country has its own context".

It seems they forgot that their economy is not being supported only by their own citizens. Ingo Eklof, director from the Hamburg port, described the following statement

Germany is the first exporting nation in Europe, and by being part of the EU, we have enormous advantages such us not having trade taxes between countries. Which helps enormously to grow our economy. One-quarter of the jobs depend on exports.

Exports generate a powerful and solid economy for Germany. So yes, maybe each country has its own political, cultural and economic structure.

But, how did Europe became the richest continent in the world? Ignoring each other or dialoguing? Without having commercial agreements? Without helping each other? Without having migratory permits that benefit tourism? Since the creation of the EU, there were no world wide wars. Does that mean something to them? Isn't the right to life, the most precious of rights? How can the right to life be maintained? With war or democracy? With economic cooperation, or with warring economies?

Without submission to this general jurisdiction provided by the EU, the possibility for conflicts to arise will grow. If their economy is not really affected, because they are one of the strongest economies in the world, and if they live well compared to the rest of the countries, why jeopardize all that? The answer to this is that there is a disappointment of the political class in Europe, therefore, the assumption of ultra-right nationalistic parties. In relation to this, Franziska Schmidtke, a researcher on right-wing extremism from the University of Jena, said

"they win more and more votes because there is a previous depoliticization of people, who did not ask themselves what political values ​​are important, but rather how to get money, or why there is inequality".

In Brussels, the heart of the EU, citizens say they know too little about what happens inside the European Parliament (EP). Brussels destines 6% of its economy to the maintenance of the EP. Damian Boeselager, founder of Volt, a pan-European movement, explained that

"the bosses meet in a room and decide among themselves. That is why we believe that Parliament must be strengthened, and its members should have the posibility to propose laws. Now they can't. We want parliamentary elections for deputies in Europe. The reform is essential".

Italy till 2017 was the country with the biggest migratory movement in Europe. In 2018, the panorama changed, because the previous year the countries from the EU did not reach an agreement towards the distribution of the migrants. That year, 2018, there were only 20.000 immigrants. There is a big problem with foreigners that decide to get into the country, this is precisely explained by Ivan Sañe, who fights against the exploitation of refugees in agriculture:

These people are slaves to the system and to the foremen. Europe must ethically and legally control this work, you can not eat products made through slavery means.

In his words, the EU is not intervening correctly in this situation. It remains on the sidelines of the immigration debate:

People who suffered torture walk through the desert thinking they have reached paradise, the cradle of the civilization of human rights, and they find themselves in this situation. They are again without rights or dignity.

An Italian citizen said that this type of situation "is a European problem, not just an Italian one. The EU can, but does not, want to find a solution". On the other hand, the sociologist Fiammetta Fanizza explains that

The problem is that social Europe has not been thought about, political Europe failed, and commercial Europe succeeds. In Italy there is an extreme right-wing government that detests the EU.

Poland has been a member State since 2004, one of the newest ones. The majority of people understand the importance of being part of the EU, and are happy that they are included. “The western standards will have influence in the country. That would be positive”, “from the EU I wish the best. Freedom, and a higher standard of living", are some of the things that can be heard among citizens. But some people are not satisfied, as the case of Robert Biedron, leader of Wiosna

Poland does not participate in the EU debates, we have to change this. We are pro-Europeans and we will fight for Poland to become more integrated into the EU.

Since 2015, the PiS is the party in power. With an ultra-conservative right-wing ideology, they forced judges from other parties to retire. "This violates the independence of the Judicial Area and is a danger to democracy according to the EU. The government gives us reasons to protest every day. The EU helps us prevent Poland from sinking", said Monica Matus, political activist.

Indeed, any international body can receive criticism, in fact, it must have a constructive criticism from the civilians, in order to progress. But, the disintegration of the EU seems to be the worst decision they could ever make. It can be seen that many of those who think that it is a good choice are "sons of democracy", this means, they did not have to suffer great war conflicts so they are not really aware of what it means to have a peace organization of such magnitude. If people support democracy, they have to understand the EU may need reforms, but not total destruction.

By Micaela Seidman

Micaela Seidman is a 21-year-old-student from Buenos Aires, Argentina who is currently studying a Law Degree at the University of San Isidro. She is working at the Buenos Aires City Government. She is the CEO and Founder of Consilium Worldwide.