2030: the political situation has been changing irreversibly for almost twenty years. The European Union is smaller in size, power and opportunities. The European currency is worryingly weakened after several countries left the euro area. Borders have been progressively reintroduced and the Schengen area no longer exists.

In Southern Europe, Greece, Spain, Italy and Portugal have brought to power farleft leaders. Those four countries have left the European Union, the euro area and the Schengen area. This reject of Europe is related to the way European authorities dealt with the crisis in the countries where it struck the harder. According to their governments, the EU, embodied by German chancellors, failed to embrace the dramatic social impact of the crisis. By imposing endless austerity measures, they only served their internal political interests. The EU has failed to create a sense of belonging within its borders, therefore encouraging national, political and economic interests to override solidarity between member-states, and therefore the well-being and prosperity of the European people as a whole.

Elsewhere in Europe, the situation is quite different, although euroscepticism has also taken over. Extreme-right parties have been gaining momentum over the last decade, and several countries are now run by coalitions between traditional political forces and far-right organizations. Nationalism is growing amongst those European countries. This situation led to the burial of the European Union’s project: sharing wealth, talents and knowledge thanks to common values. All member-states remaining now fight with all their strength to protect their sovereignty. Political union is no longer sought. The European Court of Justice’s authority is no longer acknowledged. European institutions have almost no power left. The only field where cooperation remains is economy. Memberstates have agreed to try and do their best to save the common currency, because no serious economic analysis grants them a future on the international financial scene if more countries abandon the euro. However, sticking with the common currency is considered by some as a major violation of individual states’ sovereignty, and has been a cause of division within coalitions. This shows just how fragile what remains of the European Union is, even after being reduced to an economic agreement.

Relations between Eastern and Western Europe states have declined noticeably. Manifestations of racism and xenophobia towards Eastern Europe immigrants, which are now common, have participated in this phenomenon. Dealing specifically with Roma has never been more problematic, considering several countries have completely refused to let any Roma in and have demanded their extradition towards their birth country.

Yet if there is one hate that populist doctrines have spread all over Europe, it is that of Islam. Never has Islamophobia been stronger. Muslims have been discriminated against for years now, but racism has reached such level many Muslims, religious or not, have had to move to another, less anti-Islam country.

Despite all those signs of insularity, some encouraging initiatives are spreading: they regard the fields of culture and education. Universities have gathered to create a new European collaboration regarding students and professors mobility. Funds have been provided by worldwide investors – especially Chinese, American and Japanese -, strongly convinced of the strategic importance of links between European countries. Suzanne Angliviel 2nd Prize Dark Road Ahead 5 Moreover criticism is growing amongst European peoples. Voters seem to be coming to the realization that they did not give the right answer to the European crisis. Polls show many electors now think that insularity and self-protection were not the solution. They apparently want to go back to more European cooperation.

This picture of Europe in 2030 is deliberately extremely dark. But we have to be aware that the unique, first-of-a-kind project that is Europe is at risk of being destroyed by populism and nationalism, especially when the economy is bad. The EU must never stop thinking about its weakest members, and should never forget that all twenty-seven of us are in this together. Solidarity is one of the pillars the EU has to be rebuilt on, or otherwise it will not be called a Union for long. Moreover, if we want our European institutions to be efficient, we have to give them the power to be so. Member states have to let go of a part of their sovereignty in order to create the political Europe we strive for. That is necessary because, when all of the European countries’ power will be able to unite and to have one clear voice, our international influence will go way beyond each State’s individual capacities.

Finally, we have to remember the EU was built on the dream of putting aside prejudices and hate. It was in this perspective and this one only, that economic treaties like the EAEC were signed. Economic collaboration has now been established, but we need to strengthen our knowledge and understanding of all European peoples in order to counteract racism and xenophobia. That can only be done through education and culture.

Aesop’s words of wisdom should always be on our minds: “United we stand, divided we fall”.