"Today´s Europe needs new goals"

European Parliament President Borrell in a debate about "Europe´s aims - Europe´s borders".

During a public debate in Frankfurt/Oder (Germany), the President of the European Parliament, Josep Borrell, made an impassioned appeal for a stronger contribution to the realisation of a "new European dream". President Borrell was taking part in a discussion on "Europe´s Aims - Europe´s Borders" at the European University Viadrina with over 250 members of the public plus the President of the University, Gesine Schwan, Polish MEP (Committee Education and Culture) Janusz Lewandowski and the German Minister for Europe, Günter Gloser.

Josep Borrell made it clear that in his view Europe is undergoing a crisis. "Not in terms of the way it functions, but in relation to the way people view Europe, and this crisis has been building in the six years since the Treaty of Nice was established." In his opinion the French and Dutch "no" votes in the referendum on the Constitution did not cause the current crisis, instead the "no" vote came as a result of the smouldering crisis brought about by the Treaty of Nice. According to Borrell, "the public doesn´t see [Europe] a strong political project." His view is that today, after the achievement of the original dream of peace between the European nations, new goals are needed, together with the ambition to realise them.

"Europe is something we aspire to. The hope of peace, economic progress and social justice. It is an ambitious project," he conceded, but went on to say that this could be a role model for the whole world. "Only Europe can shape the world in a fair and sustainable manner." Europe must be aware of this responsibility because it was clear that "if we do not do it, then nobody will." is something we aspire to.