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In the EU, the wind of crisis blows south, west and east. But the problem lies with the EU itself. He lacks future orientation. Committed citizens can change this ʹ think Bulgarian philosopher

Ever since I remember, I remember hearing death bells: “EU member countries will quarrel over steel”; “The EU will end in a fishing quota row. ”; “Europe will fail due to migration.” You've been listening to these bells for a long time, but now stronger.

As European I know this motive on the other hand: Thirty, 40 and 50 years ago, Moscow buried the European community. After a brief break, the Kremlin does this again. Many Bulgarians have since believed these calls. Same today. This refrain awakens among Europeans the feeling that something is wrong. That's not so wrong. I'm saying it in a habit -“When you're suffering from the mania of persecution, it doesn't mean you don't really follow” Translated to the EU: The river of words for its imminent end is meaningless. But that does not mean that the EU does not have a cardinal problem.

Very consistent, very few purposes

We have long known the problem of Greece, Italy, Spain (hope not of France). In the West, Brex has left a painful wound. There are frictions in many countries in the Orient - Hungary, Poland, Czechia, Slovakia. Is the EU really seriously ill? No. Not really. It suffers only from excessive consensus, as well as deficits in clarity of goals.

Both the word argues and the word purpose are definitions of the future, the basic elements of politics. But they both differ from each other. One purpose describes something about what it should be like. Consensis does the opposite, describes what shouldn't be. The goal points to the future, producing a temporary „ ”. While the consensus has an undefined future, it produces a „ne” permanent.

In this optical, it becomes clear: In today's EU, we don't live as we wish, but as we can. The crisis does not shake off the whole foundation of liberalisation (ides of freedom, rule of law, human rights, individual responsibility), but part of liberal reconciliations. And they must be taken care of. The common house will be aired, cleaned, remunerated.

Black or white

In the face of any new crisis, we seek protection from the illusion, that we need to discuss over and over until we make the right decision, as in the refugee issue. But in these debates we don't move a centimeter ahead. Because we discuss what we shouldn't do, but not what we should do. This research for a negative conspiracy buried the European fundamental, it produces scepticism and the feeling that Europe is chronically ill and without survival prospects. That's why we have to stop with this search. We need the opposite. For polarization. For polarising the political options that need to be weighed, rather than the endless effort for a satisfactory solution for all (at the end a half) solution. For example, we have to decide either for or against atomic energy and not hide the problem behind the rhetoric of the mixture of energy. A political decision, therefore, not being blocked in the form “from the other side of experts”.

A New Image for the Future

I don't want to put up with the wall „The mourning liberals” and protect the mascular leaders who make quick decisions and are ambitious. The EU is a link to a common future, it is ultimately determined by this goal for the common future. The problem here is that this future is in crisis. And a sick future can be replaced by a new orientation image.

Where do we start? The center of political power. Imagine the European presidential vote, attended by hundreds of millions of EU citizens. Through this, citizens have a direct influence on political power. And when the day comes for Europeans to have an answer to the secular political power, there will automatically be responsibilities for EU policy in the future. A healing polarization, an absorption power, thus arises that replaces the complaining and devoid of the reality of the EU with real power relations.

Europe needs fresh air

And if we create such a power center, then we'll observe, discuss, influence its action, not until now just its plans. Because so far, we pursue peace before a conflict. While the other road would be more fruitful once the confrontation, then the understanding. Are EU citizens ready for this? I have doubts here. But Europe must prove that. If the United States had not decided for a president, but for an Interstate Commission, the United States would have been finished for a long time. So, citizens and citizens of the EU we don't need medication. Europe is not sick. What we need is fresh air. First, we must give ourselves the future. The EU is an extraordinary historical success and the only positive outlook for hundreds of millions of people. He's just been overtaken by himself, and he's got to act now no hesitation, with determination.

*Autori is the famous Bulgarian sociologist

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