GPPi discusses EU crisis at Shanghai conference
On 15 November 2013 during a conference in Shanghai, GPPi Director Thorsten Benner spoke about the transition of Europe after the debt crisis and argued for steps that could enable the EU to act as a cohesive global player in world politics.
The one-day event in China was organized by the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences (SASS) and the Shanghai Institute for European Studies (SIES) and brought together leading Chinese researchers on Europe. It was chaired by Xu Minqi (professor at SASS and president of SIES). Participants included Wu Yikang (SASS), Ye Jiang and Zhang Haibing (Shanghai Institute for International Studies), Zhang Youwen (SASS) as well as Xie Jinghui (vice president of SASS).
In his opening remarks, as well as his keynote address on “Structural Changes in European Politics: the Franco-German Axis,” Benner stressed that continued muddling through is the most likely scenario for the coming years in terms of dealing with the EU crisis. Germany and France cannot agree on an ambitious way forward for the EU. In addition to political and economic obstacles, Benner stressed, there are mental obstacles to a more ambitious approach: the general lack of empathy among European countries (in particular between Germany and the crisis countries); the fact that Europe as a whole has become more inward-looking; and the lack of a shared “European vision” that sees the EU as a united, free, responsible and prosperous global player with the will and means to shape the 21st century.
To this end, Benner said that citizens should demand investments in European education, science, technology and military capabilities. The introduction of English as a second official language in all EU countries (with the goal of all European citizens being functionally bilingual) could facilitate the convergence of Europe’s media and labor markets as well as transnational ties. Benner argued that the downgrading of the UK’s role in Europe and the possible British exit would make it easier to adopt English as an EU-wide official language since English is less seen as the language of a major EU country and more as a neutral linguistic vehicle to be appropriated by all EU countries.