A changing world requires a strong Europe

14 juli 2009

The newly elected European Members of Parliament took up their seats in Brussels today. The good news is that no one wants to be associated with the Dutch Party for Freedom whose sole vision is to abolish Europe. The Dutch outcome of the European elections reflects a strange paradox. Given the financial-economic crisis, the shifting balance of world power and global challenges such as climate change and scarcity of energy, food and water, a strong and united Europe is more important to Dutch national interests than ever before. Some voters recognised this and cast their vote for the only party that said YES to Europe loud and clear: D66. Yet, to many others, Europe is irrelevant, an expensive irritant at best. In response to today's scary world, they turn inward, did not vote at all or voted for those parties that reject Europe. The biggest winner was the Party for Freedom. This paradox is not unique to the Netherlands. But it is the more noteworthy given that Holland is traditionally an outward looking country. The Netherlands depends for its wealth on the world and changes in the international environment have a direct impact on its economic and social well-being. For example, the Netherlands has spent "only" six billion euro to fight the financial crisis. We prefer to wait until Germany and France get back up on their feet, so trade will flow again from Rotterdam to the Dutch "hinterland."

Working towards a "strong and capable" Europe is the first pillar of Dutch foreign policy. Notwithstanding being the 21th economy in the world, Holland is an insignificant player on the world stage in relative terms. Its interests are better served through a European approach. The importance of a strong Europe for international stability is increasing now that the United States is no longer the sole military and economic superpower capable of guaranteeing international security. In the new world order, Europe constitutes one of the poles in a multi-polair power balance, which is dominated by China and the United States. That is, if Europe rises up to the challenge. A streamlining of interests between Europe, the United States and China enhances world security and stability and strengthens the position of a relatively small player as the Netherlands on the international stage. The mutual economic and financial dependency of the United States and China underscores the role Europe could play in contributing to international peace and security.

However, to play this stabilising role on the world stage, Europe has to take up the challenge and become united and strong. Take this opportunity to define a common foreign and defence policy, make a common asylum policy, deepen its integration and enlarge the Union with important states like Turkey. Yet, in reality, the financial-economic crisis challenges the solidarity between European member states, some of whom are worse affected than others. Europe has no common answer on important issues such as energy and migration. That means that European countries are easily divided by those states seeking to undermine its potential power.

In the political landscape of today, sympathy of the general populace for a strong and united Europe is waning. The gap between the popular rejection of Europe, the tendency to look inward and protect one's national interest first, and the political necessity for a strong Europe poses a stark dilemma for our politicians. For many post war Europeans the Union is like water from the tap: it is so common that we do not realise its value anymore. New ways have to be found to say YES to Europe, a wider vision needs to be presented that will inspire people in the 27 Member States. Perhaps the unanimous rejection of the Dutch Party for Freedom serves as a wake-up call.