Published Friday, June 27, 2008 at 10:45
by
negrescuvictor 
(650 views and 2 comments)
The perspectives regarding Europe seems to illustrate unfortunately the existence of two different European visions, an Eastern and a Western point of view. These differences can be easily seen in issues like workers migration, economical delocalization, taxes, and the enlargement process.
Workers migration
East: for countries from this side of Europe the freedom of movement is what Europe is all about. The people who migrate from our countries do so to build themselves a better live but also to help there families back home.
West: unfortunately the Eastern European migrants are presented as a problem and we as socialists have trouble fighting this point of view
Solution: building up a common point of view regarding migration- informing our national communities regarding the other European communities migrating and explaining the good effects that this brings on the economy
Economic delocalization
East: most of the Eastern European countries are in need of foreign investments to develop the national economy and to all that is needed to attract delocalized activities
West: the delocalization is badly lived by many of the Western European countries and sometimes Eastern countries are criticized for attracting those companies
Solution:- improve our common workers rights system so all over Europe companies respect a common set of values- promoting the European minimum wage- explaining that a company that stays in Europe is still good for the economy- fighting against the imports that come for countries that are not respecting the workers rights and the basic set of production rules
Taxes
East: more and more Eastern countries have decided to apply a unique tax system which is sometimes very low
West: this is appealing for the Western companies attracted by easy win – the countries are having trouble in keeping their current taxes system because it supplies its social system
Solution:- informing the European citizens on the need of a social system and explaining that this come from taxes that normally should generate wealth redistribution- applying a common European tax system
Enlargement
East: most of the Eastern countries are supporting the enlargement process of the European Union
West: more and more Western countries desire to stop this process for the moment
Solution:- understanding that the enlargement process is basically what pushes non-EU countries in developing their democracies and economical systems- the enlargement process has to be seen as a strict set of rules that the candidate countries have to accomplish not as a subjective process.
Eastern and Western societies are divided today by a different identity perspective. Eastern countries are feeling the need in catching up the Western European countries and they are willing to reach that goal. They know what lack of freedom or choice means, having lived for 50 years in a strict communist regime.
The Western Europeans are facing economical problems and feeling the need of closing themselves because it has been created the image that this situation is due to their openness. The reality is that Europe can only be one and if we want to put an end to this division we have to start listening to each other and start building together a stronger Europe.
We have to remember the fact that in just a few years 12 new countries have integrated the European Union and this process has to be done also on the society level. People have to learn more about each other, understand and inform themselves and travel to see each others culture and identity. This is a process that is due to last and if we want to push things forward we have to work into building a common social and political Europe where everybody is listened.
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Comments
1. Much more than two ! by chourka
on Friday, June 27, 2008 at 13:45
Indeed, there is as many Europe than citizen living in! So, we can assume there is more or less 500 millions Europe.
Remember that there is a mediterranean Europe which is much closer in its perspective to North Africa than Scandinavian member-states. We have divided countries like Ireland and Cyprus, we have very low population States (Malta, Luxembourg, Eesti) and numerous ones (Deutschland, France, GB, Italia).
Some of our member-states have been small inland kingdoms when other have been colonial empires. Each european country have been historicaly a dominant world player (Greece, Roma, España, Portugal, France, Österreich, GB but also NL and Poles could remember everybody that the Kingdom of Poland and Lithuania was the largest Kingdom Europe has ever known).
So, this identity question is a crucial one. The big issue, in order to get a better turnout, is to rise european awarness. The paradox comes from the fact that you have to listened to foreigners (like Jeremy RIFKIN in "The European Dream") to discover how efficient, how competitive, how fair are our economy, our entreprises, our social net. Till now and for a large majority —but, it is changing— Europe was a non-object.
Slowly, people is owning this new dimension. Again, more and more people are moving across their continent. New questions arise: how can I benefit from my social protection? How may I keep, for my pension, those years worked elsewhere than my native place? Under which law should I break my binational marriage (remember that in Malta, divorce still not exists)? Why I can abort in NL but not in Poland?
European Union means Peace by joining, sharing our national sovereignities. To achieve that, Democracy is a crucial point. Are we ready to accept a frame broader than the national one? When speaking about a Maltese, a Slovenian, an Hungarian, a French, etc, do we see a "foreigner" or a co-citizen? Nobody will complain if a big factory is closing its doors in Timisoara to open them in Constanza. But, if the same company move to Varna, then all the politicians, the inhabitants are shouting, complaining. Why? its is just few kilometers southward. The reality is people are reluctant to share if they feel there is no return, no advantage for themselves directly or not. And, this mainstream spirit is confronting our core values of solidarity, shareness, fraternity. It is definitely challenging... let's engage in the battle !!!
2. More diversity also inside one country by arktika
on Sunday, June 29, 2008 at 02:19
There is a lot f diversity even in one country. Let´s take case Bosnia-Herzegovina. During actual Euro 2008 tournament Bosniaks in Bosnia supported Turkey, Bosnian Croats supported Croatia and whenever Serbia is playing are Bosnian Serbs supporting them.
More serious Bosnian example one can see ICTY/Haag tribunal. Serbs are accused of murdering Croats and Bosnian muslims, Croats are accused of killing Bosnian muslims and Serbs and Bosnian muslims are accused murdering Serbs and Croats. Where is national identity or do we need it in common Europe?
Each country has their history, should it be remembered or put behind? In my opinion the core question is to separate which actionlines are best to make together Europe/global wide and which are best to be managed at local level.
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