Let’s just embrace Europe

Last week The European Union was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize. I was genuinely so pleased, admittedly the EU is facing some extremely difficult times at present but my experiences of it have always been life-affirming.

This weekend I am going to Berlin, just because I love the EU that much! Well, not just that… Last Easter I participated in the biggest and most prestigious EU stimulation held in the Strasbourg parliament, it was only a week long but I had experiences which completely redefined my view of Europe. Thus, I applied to be on the organising committee for this year’s stimulation and this weekend we are having one of our conferences in Berlin. Pretty fancy eh.

Me being all professional in the European Parliament. Check me out!

However, in such struggling times the problem of Britain’s growing Euroscepticism becomes ever more apparent, despite the fact that (in my view) the ramifications of isolationism would be detrimental to all involved.

I thought this would be an interesting topic to explore, I’ve always considered myself a European, but Britain, it transpires, finds solace in isolation; the Eurobarometer survey (2009) revealed that an overwhelming 71% of the country is apathetic or unsympathetic to Europe. This attitude contrasts magnificently with that of the continent, where a majority of citizens supported their country's membership, and only 15% deem it to have a negative impact.

Britain bears a long and contentious history of suspicion towards Europe, with an ideology instigated from typically right wing, conservative, pro-Commonwealth nostalgia; preaching the words of the Empire, far more than those of the Union. Worryingly however this mentality has endured, and thus when Cameron vetoed Angela Merkel's fiscal compact in December 2011 it seemed to reinforce more dangerous ideology than mere financial implications. The dividing gulf of the British channel seemed to increase ever further and the Euroscepticism in Britain intensified.

Cameron’s veto was only one aspect of a national culture growing apathetic to Europe; this worrying trend is also reflected in a reluctance to learn languages. Shockingly, 57% of pupils now take no languages at GCSE; this complacency is reinforced by an island mentality and isolation from bordering languages. The United Kingdom, like many other countries, is in a precarious position and the Europe Zone crisis has only led to people holding a fiercer grip on their personal interests, yet this is undoubtedly foolish.  A quote from a Dutch newspaper, Volkskrant, epitomises the British position; “Europe marches on, Cameron stands still”. Britain’s lack of willing is preventing a united, but diverse, Europe; something of an essential in terms of progressive political and economic necessity. Euroscepticism is not only educationally limiting, but also massively counterproductive; European countries account for 50% of British trade and much of their inward investment, leaving the EU is not, in any shape or form, in the national interest.

The fact that programmes such as ERASMUS are suffering funding cuts appals me, because for me it is the existence of these very programmes which makes Europe so deserving of a Nobel Peace Prize; it is the fostering of friendships between nations (of which I have personal experience) which prevents conflict and breeds empathy. Europe is undergoing a renovation, change is on the horizon. Hopefully Britain will learn from the mistakes of their disillusioned Euroscepticism and embrace this revolution, resulting not only in a healthier, more efficient and better Britain, but also an equally benefiting Europe.

Florence