On May 9, 1950, Robert SCHUMAN declared: “Europe will not be made all at once, or according to a single plan: it will be built through concrete achievements which first create a de facto solidarity.” This declaration, the birth certificate of the European Union, made it possible to strengthen peace between Germany and France while ensuring economic development in the immediate post-war period. A few weeks ago, I was speaking to you about territorial innovation and the need for dialogue and “producing together.” Where does Europe stand on this level?
On June 23rd, the British will have to vote on their departure from the European Union. Whether they leave the EU or not, this referendum will be a blast regardless because it means that now, the risk of decomposition exists. For several years, we have seen the EU regularly convene “last chance summits,” these are the words of the President of the European Commission himself. By playing the last chance game, by failing to erase divisions between Member States, by seeing some go it alone, the values of the EU and primarily the “solidarity” of Robert SCHUMAN are in peril!
We hear all sorts of things about Europe. Of course, the Member States are primarily responsible for the situation in which it finds itself. But the European institutions share this responsibility. Administrative burden, lack of proximity with citizens, they no longer know who decides and therefore feel excluded from the process! To this is added the crisis of representative democracy. Europe is inaccessible, incomprehensible and is gradually becoming an ivory tower that riles many citizens.
Ultimately, it is quite paradoxical, have we already forgotten the progress that Europe has made possible: fundamental and social rights that improve daily life, free movement, ERASMUS, even the Euro! Despite all this, citizens no longer listen to Europe, they hang up on it! Citizens are shouting their desire to see emerge: more transparency, more integrity, more exchanges and more interactions. The institutions must hear this this week and adapt to the evolutions of society.
And what about innovation in all this?
As in territorial innovation, the European Institutions must, in my opinion, ensure a role of catalyst! Processes involving citizens must be redesigned, territorial actors more closely associated. On this Europe Day, let us act through concrete achievements because often innovation is simply noticing that profound changes are necessary, reinventing practices and daring to implement them.
