« Antidemocratic and xenophobic forces of Europe have always been attracted by the European unity dream, the mystic of the imperial Rome»
(FB - 1998)
" Being a citizen is a voluntary act "
(FB - 2009)
"Thinking about the future only makes sense if it is aimed at improving one’s thinking about the present and about the trends at work"
(FB - 1998)
"The European project is not a dream, but a hope. It is rooted in rationality, which is not the case with dreams. We Europeans have seen our dreams end in nightmares too often not to be suspicious."
(FB - 2005)
"The strength of a network is judged at the information level of the weakest link, or more precisely the link furthest from the centre of the network."
(FB - 2004)
"Europe's destiny is escaping the two "Greats" and it will come knocking on the door of the Europeans."
(FB - 1989)
"The history of Europe is a bit like a multifaceted diamond. Everyone sees the same diamond... but no one sees exactly the same facets."
(FB - E-storia project, 2004)
"Let us dare the future as the founding fathers of Europe did"
(FB - "From EU to Euroland", 2001)
"The European citizenship can not be decreed. The European citizen can only be born..."
(FB - 1992)
"Every state is a minority in the EU. In any case, let’s not forget that if all our states went into building the EU it is because they all felt too small to face alone both their future and the rest of the world."
(FB - 2003)
"From a single (EU) Currency to a single (EU) Citizenship. The euro is only an instrument."
(FB - 1997)
"An empire is always providing platforms where conflicts and wars prolife­rate... an empire needs enemies, whilst a Community requires partners."
(FB - 1992)
"Europe’s history has taught us that dreams and nightmares are the two faces of the same coin"
(FB - “Europe is Peace” 2006)
"Everybody wants to have a successful enlargement whereas it is a successful enlarged EU which is important."
(FB - 2002)
"It is clear that the existing national political parties can not serve two masters: national and European."
(FB - IDE, 1989)
"It takes teamwork to make Europe move forward."
(FB - 2005)
"There is nothing like one European. The European is a team of Europeans... the only way we can imagine a European, it is a team of people from different countries, not a single man or woman."
(FB - Enschede (NL) 2012)
"On the horizon with a heaven of freedom and a land of responsibility, this is perhaps the soul of Europe."
(FB - 1992)
"The future challenge for the European project is not about Europe anymore, it is about the Europeans."
(FB - 2005)
"The more Brussels speaks English, the less Brussels understands the Europeans"
(FB - 2004)
"Occupy the Future of Europe!"
("What do YOU want as a future for AEGEE?" Franck Biancheri at the 2012 Agora in Enschede)
"To combine new technologies and democratic principles to succeed in the entry of European integration in the 21st century or e-democracy at the service of Euro-democracy"
(FB - EUSV, 2001)
"In the years 00 of the 21st century, democratization can only take place in the perspective of the democratic election of a European executive that remains to be invented."
(FB - EUSV, 2001)
"We must build the European Community, otherwise Europe will soon be culturally Americanised, politically Finlandised and technologically Japanised"
EGEE I, 1984

From European Elections 2019 to Europe 2040: Making sure Europe’s nascent democracy serves the interests of the next generations. Joint declaration AEGEE-Europe, AAFB, LEAP2040

To the attention of our political & civil society leaders

 

The 2019 European Elections enter into history as the first signal of ownership of the European project by citizens.

 

The stop to falling turnout proves that the European election will no longer be a second-class vote. The presence of three trans-European parties in the campaign testifies that more Europeans understand that some issues are trans-border. The centrality of environmental concerns in the campaign, indicated by green parties’ high results and the importance of this question in every party agenda, shows that for a significant number of Europeans, this kind of question call for continental answers.

 

This demonstrates that concern about European politics is growing among citizens across the continent, that the citizens of European countries seek control on their future and that they are conscious of their shared responsibility regarding the fate of Europe.

 

But this overhaul remains unsatisfactory, even disturbing, in several respects:

 

  • the increase in participation is still weak amongst young people: this year, still 59% of young people are the let-offs of European democratization
  • trans-European parties now exist but remain invisible: Volt, Diem25 and Pirates only get five seats, and the future of the Europeans remains in the hands of national and nationalist forces, reinforcing Europe’s schizophrenia
  • European campaign contents are still dominated by the most radical components of national political lives, with the risk that the new European debate tends to an ominous extremism threatening the fundamental values ​​of European integration: peace, democracy and prosperity.

 

Therefore, while welcoming the 2019 election’s democratization and transformational potential, we call the European society as a whole:

 

  • to be extremely vigilant on political decisions and orientations of Europe in this next European legislature
  • to ensure that in the 2024 election will display counter-proposals resulting from direct trans-European consultations and political dynamics
  • to become examples of active citizens both during, before and after elections
  • to include the voice of young people in decision-making processes at local, national and European level
  • to include the whole process in a debate and reflection on the future of our continent by 2040.

 

If we admit that the youth is the most European component of our society, that they are the most concerned about the future and that they have the highest potential for innovation, it is in European youth that slumbers the alternatives to this Europe of divisions and of fear of the future.

 

The whole of European civil society must resolutely lean on these new generations for Europe to become the instrument serving our common societal projects.

 

AEGEE-Europe, LEAP2040 and AAFB are three organisations related to Franck Biancheri. This joint declaration is part of their dedication to continue the battle Franck Biancheri fought during 30 years for the democratisation of Europe and provide it with a new horizon: 2040.