A call for more Europe and more European integration

Sabine Lautenschläger who resigned from ECB calls for more Europe in a recent speech:

“I am a German and will remain a German, but I have always been a European too and have felt as such.”

These are the words spoken by Konrad Adenauer in 1946, when reconciling Europe and securing peace were paramount. National arrogance and isolationism had culminated in two world wars – two world wars which had wreaked death, misery and chaos on Europe.

Adenauer‘s conviction had a profound influence on many people, including my parents. His core belief that “we’re Europeans first and Germans second” is still a great inspiration to me today. For those who lived through the Second World War, a strong Europe, a united Europe, represented the future and the path to lasting peace.

But today some people harbour doubts about the European idea. Nationalism and populism are flaring up again and parties that are critical of the European project, or even reject it outright, are gaining ground in many countries.

This is an alarming development.

We must not forget the lessons from our history. Borders and walls within Europe have never created security. A united Europe has bestowed peace and prosperty to each Member State and its people – the German people included.

And the future challenges facing each and every one of us can only be met by working together in Europe.

How these forces of union and break up of unions go in circles…