It is time for Europe to rediscover its vision

Europe is losing its way. Under the pressure of the economic crisis, the vision and sense of purpose that once underpinned European integration have given way to a bruising battle for survival, argues Andrew Noakes.

It is true that ‘more Europe’, not less, is a large part of the answer to Europe’s present troubles, but as a stronger union emerges from the ashes of the eurozone crisis, we must not let simple survival become the new mission of our continent. There is far more to the European project than that.

European integration has always been underpinned by a sense of high purpose. After the end of the Second World War, it was about bringing the promise of peace to a continent reeling from war and genocide; then, it became about prosperity and encouraging the emergence of democracy and liberty in the post-communist space. Now, as the union (or most of it, at least) embarks on a new round of integration in the form of the fiscal compact, we must decide what will be the new vision for our union in this century.

I propose that a major part of that vision should be of Europe as a global activist. Wielding the collective power and influence of 27 states, we have the potential to develop a distinctive, European international agenda and to shape global forces and events around it. It would be an agenda that contributes, in careful partnership with other states, to the creation of a stronger and more just world society, where international law, institutions, and regimes (like Kyoto), form the basis of global order, and where they serve the interests of all people, not just the most powerful.

We can regulate the international financial markets that seem to hold us hostage; we can use the collective strength of our continent to tackle the great challenges of climate change and poverty; we can rebalance the power relationship between states, societies, and multi-national corporations; we can deal more effectively with international crises and conflicts, from Israel-Palestine to South Asia and Central Africa; we can encourage the peaceful expansion of democracy and human rights. All of this we can do, and more.

In a globalised world, the European Union is a radical pioneer of global governance and collective power. We can use our combined strength to set an agenda that will empower people all over the world. That is the challenge. That is the opportunity.

Andrew Noakes is Chair of the Young European Movement London