Eduardo Margareto

The world seems to have gone crazy. If you had told me a few years ago that not only would I witness a pandemic during my lifetime, but also war on the European continent and a dictatorship in the making on the other side of the Atlantic (to name just the most prominent examples), I would have smiled politely and tried to walk away from this conversion very quickly. Yet, it took a mere five years to experience all of it, and this seems to be just the beginning.

I must admit: The urge to lock myself at home and turn off the constant stream of horrific news is there. And that’s just me, in the very privileged position of having been affected only indirectly by any of those developments. I understand everyone who has had enough and tries to shut the world out, who wants to have family and friends around and nobody else, and who wants to turn back the hands of time and regain the comfort and security our nostalgic memory tells us we had back in the days.

The problem is: Playing ostrich won’t solve anything. On the contrary, it will make things worse. And a second truth: We won’t achieve anything by flying solo with our small community or even with our big country. For problems of this magnitude, you need allies.

We need the good stories and the contributions of everyone to make this work. It’s up to all of us to give Europe a face.

The European Union has been criticised a lot. A bureaucratic, expensive monster, accumulating more and more power, far away from the daily reality of its citizens. As usual, there is a grain of truth to it. The EU needs reforms, there is big room for improvement. But: It is our best shot at overcoming all those crises.

It doesn’t stop there – being united in the face of crises is important, however it should not be the only justification for coming together.

When I see the EU, I see the following:

• In my region, I see bridges built with EU money, nature reserves financed by the EU, professional development offers at local education institutions sponsored by the EU.
• When I travel abroad, I can go see a doctor when I get sick, and my insurance will cover it. I can use my phone without having to worry about a massive bill at the end of the month. I can trust electronic devices, food, and infrastructure just as much as at home because there are security standards in place.
• I can even move to another country if I choose to do so and will be able to seek work without needing a permit, receive unemployment benefits and vote in local elections.
• Pupils, students, trainees, and apprentices can go abroad for a project or for parts of their studies and receive funding for that.
• Companies can expand their business beyond borders and rest assured that there are laws that will be respected. The result? A bigger market, more prosperity, more jobs.

Just the first things that come to my mind when thinking about it.

For me, the European Union is one of the big success stories of modern time. It will fail however if it doesn’t get the continued backing of its citizens – which it won’t get if we don’t spread the word and report on the many successes instead of just focusing on the problems. We need the good stories and the contributions of everyone to make this work. It’s up to all of us to give Europe a face.

Thank you, Acento Comunicación, for having done this with so much verve and expertise for already 25 years!

Anita Schneider is an expert in communication and public affairs. Born in Germany, she has a fifteen-year track record working in research, education, and innovation across Europe.

Her DNA is defined by strong organizational skills, a sharp mind, a passion for mentoring, and a firm belief in the benefits of collaboration. She currently serves as the Interim Head of the EuroTech Brussels Office. The universities within this prestigious European academic alliance have secured €1.3 billion under the Horizon 2020 program.