United we stand

摘要

Following the unsuccessful referendums on the constitution and the ill-fated European Council in June, I'm not the first to point out that this is a difficult time for the European Union. The referendum voters were split on the constitution but not on their analysis of Europe's main challenge. Many, in particular the young, do not see the EU as a guarantor of their economic and social futures in a global economy, while others see in the union their best chance of protection against challenges that globalisation presents. So the underlying worry is the same — only the remedies differ. I am convinced we have already formulated the answer to this global challenge: the knowledge-based economy.