Pieter Timmermans

Europe in 1000 words: CHANGE THROUGH UNITY

Europe was once the biggest world power. Today we still play an important role alongside the US, China, India and other global players. EU-membership has grown over the past 50 years, from the six founding members in 1957 to 28 members today, making “no more war” in Europe a reality. Many times socio-economic differences were pushed aside at the expense of political unity, but they are now costing us dearly. The gap between citizens and politics, between the various Member States, between democracy and populism, between solidarity and individualism, has only widened, and at such a critical time in our history the UK wants to leave the EU, with Brexit due in March 2019.


Europe has now reached a crucial point in its history. This has been said by many people many times already but is becoming clearer by the day. Are we regressing, or are we resolutely looking to a new future? Political and socio-economic leaders are now at a crossroads and together, they must decide the direction to take in a number of areas.


Civilisation.Our white, Western civilisation ruled the world for centuries. Europe has now become a multicultural society, with hundreds of nationalities living together in Brussels, Berlin, Paris, and so on. The challenge for Europe lies in harmoniously bringing together the different cultures in this melting pot. Creating a future-oriented migration and integration model is possibly the biggest challenge to the new political class governing Europe.


Age. Europe is ageing very quickly. This is positive in itself, a demonstration of Europe's high living standards and innovation.Longer, healthier lives are an indication of progress. Is our social model prepared for this? I dare to doubt it. We all live longer, study longer, want to work less yet still strive for higher pensions. We are trying to square the circle, an impossible task.European leaders must make this clear and therefore opt for an inclusive social model that incorporates demographic changes.


This requires, among other things, a reform of the labour market:eliminate conflicts between flexibility and security, and provide flexicurity. Employment security, rather than job security, must be our motto. This is an aim that appeals to today's young people, the ones who will fund our socio-economic model of the future. As such, an inclusive labour market with rights and obligations must become the new standard.


Energy pathways. We need to combine an adequate, affordable energy supply with an ambitious climate plan to combat global warming. This is another key challenge for Europe. Conventional (fossil) energy sources are slowly but surely drying up. Waiting for the problem to get worse is essentially gross negligence, so Europe must resolutely invest in energy savings and low-carbonenergy sources. Every kilowatt hour that does not have to be consumed is a kilowatt hour saved. We must make full use of insulation in buildings, energy-saving production processes, and so on. The energy pathway between the north of Europe (wind,hydro) and the more southern countries (solar) must be more than just a dream. Making this a reality will also instantly boost cohesion in Europe. Knowing that we have worked together to enhance the security of supply will encourage faith in the European project.


Education and training.Europe's Erasmus programme was launched in 1987 and has given millions of young people the chance to study in another Member State. The importance of this cannot, and must not, be underestimated. This was also perhaps the project that reduced the gap between citizens and Brussels, and between citizens and the abstract concept of Europe. In turn, the programme is also conducive to boosting professional mobility throughout the EU.


Europe now needs Erasmus 2.0, and a programme that shortens e.g. the distance between our research centres in different EU States must certainly be a part of this. This is the only way in which Europe can continue to leave its mark and impose its (technological) standards in today's disruptive world. Europemust be a leader, not a follower, when it comes to innovation.


Safety.Geopolitical tensions are constantly on the rise. China wants to become a political and economic world power. The main challenge lies in allowing all Chinese citizens (whose numberstop one billion) to benefit from progress, rather than just the several hundred million who currently do so and this, without destabilising the political order. Africa is one of the world's most beautiful continents, yet is one of the ugliest when it comes to democratic standards. The USA, with its America First movement, is shifting towards more protectionism. The Middle East is, and remains, a hotbed of conflict.


We can now follow in real time all of these threatening geopolitical relationships. The world has become my village and is becoming ever smaller thanks to social media and the Internet. When we discuss distance, we now clearly talk about time rather than kilometres. At such a juncture, (structured) multilateral consultation within the UN, WTO, OECD or G7/G20 is crucial, so Europe also needs to put on a much more united front within these organisations.


When our safety is threatened by external forces (either physically by terrorist attacks or elec tronically through cyber-attacks, for instance),Europe must (be able to) defend itself.Strengthening Europol by turning it into a sort of European FBI is one idea to be considered, as is the creation of a European Cyber Coalition. A European army, or at least greater cooperation between the different defence institutions, is the logical consequence of a more integrated, safer Europe.


Digitisation. The launch of the computer and then the link between computers via the Internet triggered the fourth industrial revolution. Artificial intelligence and data management will become the new oil of the economy. Everyone now knows about industry 4.0. Thanks to the Internet of Things, all processes are wirelessly connected to everything and everyone in a network. This concept is now also being applied in other links of the business chain. In other words, industry 4.0 is becoming business 4.0. Europe must become a trailblazer to avoid missing out.


We have already overcome numerous crises in the past and this generally encouraged European integration. Let's hope and try to make this the case here, too. Europe’s motto should be ‘underpromising and overachieving’. This must be the central theme for the decades to come. Europeans expect visible, tangible solutions to the major social, economic and political challenges described above. They can no longer be resolved at Member State level;they require a European approach. A Europe of results, let’s go for it! Yes we can!


Pieter Timmermans


CEO Federation of Entreprises in Belgium (FEB)