A united Europe

On March 9, the University’s Liechtenstein Institute on Self-Determination hosted a lunch seminar with former Prime Minister of Portugal and former President of the EU Commission José Manuel Barroso. Prime Minister Barroso’s speech highlighted the need, in the face of increased nationalism around the world, for a renewed confidence and investment in the European Union. The EU and any such supranational organization only flourishes, Barasso said, when its member-states take pride in such international cooperation and embrace the nature of the institution.

The United Nations is constantly criticized for its supposed ineffectiveness, sprawling bureaucratic organization, and lack of cohesiveness. Now, it seems that the European Union is the next target for anti-globalization forces. In light of this threat, we have to protect and defend the European Union as the unifying, effective, and powerful body that it truly is. Without it, Europe would surely be in a more disorderly state of affairs.

Last year’s Brexit decision opened a Pandora’s box of criticism of the European Union. The nationalist “Leave” camp began a wave of populism that carried far-reaching effects to the United States, France, and the Netherlands. Marine Le Pen of France's National Front and Geert Wilders of the Party of Freedom in the Netherlands ground this idea of populism in reality. Wilders ran, and LePen is running, an intensely populist campaign, with heated rhetoric and far-right calls for change. Both have called for a withdrawal from the European Union. Though Wilders was narrowly defeated, LePen's chance of victory is not outside the realm of possibility, especially after the populist surprises of 2016.

A LePen victory in France would raise the alarm for the European Union and supporters of the institution. Riding the Brexit wave, the populists of the Front National promised throughout LePen’s campaign that, if elected, they would hold a popular referendum to decide the future of France in the EU. A successful leave campaign would turn Britain’s individual departure into a trend, and would endanger the strength of the EU overall. But Europe, and indeed the world, needs the EU, and a French departure would be a mistake.

The European Union, much like the United Nations, stands as a forum for community, dialogue, and cooperation within the global stage. Its emphasis on the openness and interplay of European countries with one another is a testament to the sort of collaboration and discourse that should and must occur in our new and changing world. Economically, the EU is the largest trade block in the world, allowing for the free flow of both peoples and goods without the existence of extensive regional barriers. This is one of features that makes the bloc so beneficial to its members, but the divestment of country after country from the intergovernmental agreement would render it economically ineffective. Politically speaking, supranational groups such as the EU only function when participation and membership are involved and inclusive. Without the full participation of dominant member states, it seems that the European Union could face the same fate as the short-lived League of Nations from the post-World War I period.

To survive this crisis of faith and to weather the storm of nationalism, we need strong leadership to renew faith in the mechanisms that allow for international cooperation and dialogue. We need to highlight the benefits of the EU, and emphasize how it helps to solve the problems and crises of our times. Shifting more attention towards the EU and giving it credit for what it achieves will clarify how the organization operates and rebut the cries of inefficiency from the far-right.

The European Union, much like the United Nations, stands as a symbol of what global cooperation can look like. So much of what we hear on the news discusses the conflicts and arguments between individual countries, and in this individualistic worldview, it can be hard and nearly impossible to see much hope of reconciliation or progress. But by observing a collection of countries engaged in common dialogue with one another in the hopes of achieving a singular goal, we can almost get a renewed sense of faith that things will be alright, that the global community can prevail no matter what sort of problem presents itself.

Kaveh Badrei is a freshman from Houston, Texas. He can be reached at kbadrei@princeton.edu.