Against the tide of Euro-pessimism, MEP Philippe Juvin (EPP, France) has written a political essay the Martens Centre would like to honour, an ode to Europe’s long history. The title: “Notre Histoire, les cent dates qui ont fait la nation européenne” or “For a History of the European nation” in English. It analyses one hundred key events that Mr. Juvin identifies as instrumental in the formation of a European identity.
The Director of Martens Centre, Tomi Huhtanen kicked-off the event by saying that Europe’s identity is Europe’s history and hence, such a historical perspective is indeed fundamental for Europe’s future at a time when our values are challenged from within and without our continent.
What makes us Europeans and what should we be proud of, were some strands that Mr. Juvin focused on. Europeans have always had a feeling of belonging to something more than their nation, a European nation. Therefore, he added that Europe has a rich legacy of memories, and is a driving force to do great things together for the future. ‘We should redefine our national heroes to European heroes to develop a European feeling and identity’ mentioned the MEP. Subsequently, he pointed out that our national histories in Europe are much more related than we learn in school. He urged Europeans to start thinking beyond their nations and national issues, considering themselves mainly as members of the same group – European nation, although he underlined the need of defining frontiers across the EU.
According to the French MEP, the idea of European unity is a historically recent concept, and in that respect, he referred to the EU integration ideal claiming that he does not foresee Turkey’s EU accession because, Turkey does not share and respect main European fundamental values.