In 2012, the European Union (EU) was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize "for over six decades of having contributed to the advancement of peace and reconciliation, democracy and human rights in Europe". It is time that the EU consider giving the Prize back to the Norwegian Nobel Committee.
None of the crises which are currently shaking the EU in its foundations came as an overnight surprise: the Euro-Crisis would have become apparent to anyone watching Eurostat statistics about capital flows during the 2000s; the replacement of strong internal borders with weak external borders (Schengen) would have become apparent to anyone taking a look at the quality of external borders; the radical Islamization of many large cities would have become apparent to anyone driving through those cities; and now - the refugee crisis is not an event of 2015. Instead, it seems like a long time ago that Italy was governed by Silvio Belusconi but already during his time the first pictures about Lampedusa crossed TV screens all over Europe.
Major problems can and will occur all the time. As nice as prevention sounds, not everything can be prevented. However, the issue is whether major problems are recognized in time and whether decisive corrective action is taken. The EU has failed miserably on those counts.
The EU's reckless failure to recognize major problems in time and to take corrective action will, in all likelihood, become "a threat to peace and reconciliation, to democracy and human rights in Europe". In short, the oppositve of what the EU was awared the Nobel Peace Prize for.
In light of the above, returning this Prize to the Norwegian Nobel Committee seems an appropriate action and/or reaction on the part of the EU. Perhaps even an overdue action.
None of the crises which are currently shaking the EU in its foundations came as an overnight surprise: the Euro-Crisis would have become apparent to anyone watching Eurostat statistics about capital flows during the 2000s; the replacement of strong internal borders with weak external borders (Schengen) would have become apparent to anyone taking a look at the quality of external borders; the radical Islamization of many large cities would have become apparent to anyone driving through those cities; and now - the refugee crisis is not an event of 2015. Instead, it seems like a long time ago that Italy was governed by Silvio Belusconi but already during his time the first pictures about Lampedusa crossed TV screens all over Europe.
Major problems can and will occur all the time. As nice as prevention sounds, not everything can be prevented. However, the issue is whether major problems are recognized in time and whether decisive corrective action is taken. The EU has failed miserably on those counts.
The EU's reckless failure to recognize major problems in time and to take corrective action will, in all likelihood, become "a threat to peace and reconciliation, to democracy and human rights in Europe". In short, the oppositve of what the EU was awared the Nobel Peace Prize for.
In light of the above, returning this Prize to the Norwegian Nobel Committee seems an appropriate action and/or reaction on the part of the EU. Perhaps even an overdue action.
There are other laureates in a similar position!
AntwortenLöschenH.Trickler