The campaign for the European elections on June 9 enters its final stretch. The citizens of the European Union are called to the polls in an event of enormous importance to define the future of the common project. The world is going through a turbulent phase of geopolitical, technological and climatic changes that pose serious risks. The EU must address the challenge of major transformations to adapt to this new time, and the European Parliament that emerges from the polls, with much more relevant powers than in the first legislatures, will play a fundamental role. It is essential, therefore, that there be a broad and deep public debate on the dilemmas that confront us. However, in many countries of the Union – as seen in Spain – national political dynamics monopolize attention in a way that prevents a useful exchange of ideas about the European project.
It is of course inevitable that the European elections will also be perceived as taking the pulse of the different forces at a national level, and that burning internal issues in each country will emerge in the campaign. However, the parties have the responsibility to take advantage of this campaign to make their proposals on the future of the EU known instead of using it to replicate the same old fight with the same catchphrases. In addition to a political meaning, this responsibility also has a previous one, of civic pedagogy. First of all, because the functioning of the complex European institutions is still not well known, despite being fundamental for the well-being and security of citizens. Afterwards, because EU citizens do not yet form a demos, nor are we close to it, but precisely the European elections should be a moment in which politicians underline in the campaign the transversality of the main issues. Even with greater vision, they could teach about the circumstances of other countries, motivated by geographical and historical differences. In this sense, the first stage of this campaign can clearly be improved and it is necessary to urge the parties – certainly in Spain – to raise the level of the debate.
What is at stake is enormously important. It is time to put the usual battles on hold and explain to citizens, for example, how we intend to finance the large investments necessary to make us less dependent on strategic technologies or defense. If a new issue of common debt will be requested, if there is a willingness to cut back on agricultural or cohesion policy. It is time to clarify whether one is in favor of EU enlargement and, if so, with what procedure, with what type of internal reforms. It is time to make commitments to the green agenda, to clarify whether the newly reformed immigration system is accepted as good or if we want to correct it. And much more.
It is essential that politicians and citizens are clear about and take seriously the growing, extraordinary importance of the EU as a decision-making center with a direct impact on their lives. In an increasingly brutal world, it is in that dimension where our future is at stake, more than in the national one. This cannot be relegated to a secondary level of public debate, without giving pause to national issues. The future of the EU deserves to be at the center of the debate and for the parties to clearly define themselves before the citizens about it, because it is what will most mark the future of the people who live in it.
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