This note argues that the lack of awareness of our shared interests as Europeans
is one of the main causes for the inexistence of a true European constituency
made up of individual able to act politically upon their interests at
continental level. Mainstream European political parties have not taken up the
challenge of articulating such interests at pan-European level and have rather
left the work of engaging with their citizens to national parties.
The
result is that decisions at European level – especially in areas where the EU
as no (or limited) competence – are taken often on the basis of national
interests, which recent crises have proved to be against the overall European
interest and, ultimately, against that of its citizens.
This short
piece therefore suggests that investments need to be made on raising awareness
of our common interest as Europeans and to the definition of a clearer vision
for Europe in the 21st century. This would contribute to transforming
Europeans citizens into a constituency willing (and able) to put forward
ambitious reforms for Europe that require significant transfers of sovereignty
and, therefore, broad citizens' support.
