When trying to imagine what the future of the European Union (EU) should look like, people often fall either into the trap of wishful thinking or doomsaying. What is actually needed is a realistic and applicable plan for the further development of the greatest peace project on the European continent in the coming months, years, and decades.
“No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path,” we read in Sayings of Buddha.
In this context, it should be rather easy to determine what the future would be like, as implementing a plan to ‘save our future’ means simply following a series of incremental changes. However, in reality, this is not how life works and so external factors and the geopolitical situation may significantly alter the once taken course.
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EDITORIAL OLGA ŁABENDOWICZ MYTHICAL SELF-SUFFICIENCY VERSUS REALITY-updated
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has turned the nearest future of Europe upside down. All member states had to take sides and either support the vulnerable neighbor or side with the vicious aggressor. As a result, the already existing divide between the EU and Hungary – reluctant to condemn Vladimir Putin’s actions and instead spreading pro-Russian disinformation – has deepened, splitting at the same time the once united Visegrad Group.
Consequently, the so-called ‘mainstream’ EU has further integrated – a very welcome development indeed, but there is still a long way to go for the European project to be one every citizen can be proud of.
The areas that require special attention are numerous. Be it regulation, rule of law, security, or EU enlargement to include Ukraine, and potentially other states (like Bosnia and Herzegovina, for example) to ensure peace and safety in the region. This is precisely why Europeans cannot afford to spend another second on unproductive discussions. What we require now is non loqui sed facere.
After all, to quote Seneca, “Most powerful is he who has himself in his own power.”
Let us take control of the future of the European Union – our future. Let us make it, and ourselves, united, dependable, and strong. It is we who must ensure a bright European future.
Have an inspiring read,
Olga Łabendowicz
Editor-in-Chief of 4liberty.eu Review
Coordinator of the 4liberty.eu network
