« 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

[Special issue] Euroland at a crossroads – Special review by LEAP2020[Publication] L’Euroland dans tous ses états – Cahier spécial par LEAP2020

As part of the Franck Biancheri network, we are pleased to announce the publication by LEAP2020 and Anticipolis of the Special Review entitled “Euroland at a crossroads”.

Couv Cahier enThis special review is a compilation of complementary views on the theme of the reform of the eurozone, the purpose of which is to report on the vigor of the debate on this reform in order to encourage citizens to better grasp it, in line with the concern that has been ours for 30 years: European democratization.

In a European Union in great practical and moral difficulty, the eurozone is looking more and more like Europe’s ‘hard-core’ – that has resisted the shocks absorbed by our continent in the past 10 years better than the rest. And this is to be expected: the eurozone is composed of the countries that have chosen the fullest integration. Sharing the same currency, they are firmly embarked on the same course and have no choice but to find ways to live together.

Sharing the same currency entails talking about common taxation and joint investment. Automatically, this raises questions about the means of providing this financing capacity: Defence, social, environment, economic recovery, employment etc. A political Europe, therefore … and democratic as well hopefully … Are we finally getting there?

Problem: The Eurozone is not the EU … how to build a democratic Eurozone while all eyes are fixed on “Brussels” and while the only mechanisms supposed to connect citizens to the European institutions are connected to the EU (European election, European Parliament)?

Through this review of texts contributed by people both eminent and complementary in their profiles, LEAP wishes to affirm the political proposal to democratise the eurozone and demonstrate its potential for modernisation: the eurozone is a terra incognita at the heart of the EU and, as such, provides the perfect opportunity for the development and construction of the Europe of tomorrow that citizens need to seize.

This Special Review provides a rarely acknowledged opportunity to make possible a ‘storming of the Bastille’ of the Eurozone!

Next to articles by LEAP/GEAB, this Special Review gathers contributions by prominent civil servants, economists and politicians both European and extra-European, such as Thomas Wieser, Benoit Coeuré, Frank Vandenbroucke, Thomas Mayer et Daniel Gros, Pierre Larrouturou, Pierre Calame, Cédric du Monceau, Robert Polet, Adrien Piquera, Irina Yarigina or Haihong Gao.

It also includes one of the very last text written by Philippe Maystadt, who unfortunately passed away during the elaboration of the Review. We have wished to dedicate the entire work to his memory.

This Special Review is available in electronic format, on Anticipolis for 5 euros

Dans le cadre du réseau Franck Biancheri, nous sommes heureux de vous annoncer la publication par LEAP2020 et Anticipolis du Cahier Spécial intitulé « L’Euroland dans tous ses états ».

Ce cahier spécial est une compilation aux regards complémentaires sur le thème de la réforme de la zone euro et rend compte de la vigueur du débat sur cette réforme afin d’inciter les citoyens à mieux s’en saisir, dans un souci notamment de démocratisation européenne.

Dans une Union Européenne en très grandes difficultés techniques et morales, la zone euro apparaît de plus en plus comme un noyau dur qui a mieux résisté que le reste aux chocs encaissés depuis 10 ans par notre continent. Et c’est normal : la zone euro regroupe les pays qui ont fait un choix d’intégration maximale ; partageant la même monnaie, ils sont résolument embarqués dans un même bateau et n’ont plus d’autre choix que de trouver les moyens de vivre ensemble.

Le fait de partager la même monnaie oblige à parler fiscalité commune et investissements communs. Aussitôt, cela soulève les questions des grandes orientations à donner à cette capacité de financement : Europe sociale, environnementale, de la défense, de la relance économique, de l’emploi,… Europe politique donc… et démocratique espérons-le… Enfin, on y est ?

Problème : L’Eurozone n’est pas l’UE… alors comment construire une Eurozone démocratique alors que tous les regards sont braqués sur «Bruxelles» et que les seuls mécanismes supposés connecter les citoyens aux institutions européennes sont greffés sur l’UE (élections européennes, Parlement européen) ?

Par ce recueil de textes rédigés par des personnalités aussi éminentes que complémentaires, LEAP entend poser le projet politique de démocratisation de la zone euro et démontrer son potentiel de modernisation : la zone euro est une terra incognita au cœur de l’UE, et à ce titre la parfaite base d’invention et de construction de l’Europe de demain dont les citoyens doivent impérativement s’emparer.

Ce Cahier spécial du LEAP est une occasion, suffisamment rare pour être appréciée, de rendre possible une « prise de la Bastille » de la zone euro!

Outre deux articles de LEAP/GEAB, ce Cahier Spécial « L’Euroland dans tous ses états » réunit les contributions de fonctionnaires, économistes et politiques européens et extra-européens tels que Thomas Wieser, Benoit Coeuré, Frank Vandenbroucke, Thomas Mayer et Daniel Gros, Pierre Larrouturou, Pierre Calame, Cédric du Monceau, Robert Polet, Adrien Piquera, Irina Yarigina ou encore Haihong Gao.

Il comprend également l’une des toutes dernières contributions de Philippe Maystadt, malheureusement décédé pendant l’élaboration du Cahier. L’ensemble de ce travail a été dédié à sa mémoire.

Le Cahier Spécial est disponible en version électronique sur Anticipolis au tarif de 5 euros