Culture needs a strong vice president and European Commissioner. It should not just appear in the small print of the job description, Lars Ebert, Sneška Quaedvlieg-Mihailović and André Wilkens write. Europe stands at a critical juncture, facing war, division, and polarization which are eroding the very fabric of our societies.
As decades of peace and European cooperation are threatened, the European Union's fundamental purpose seems increasingly forgotten amidst growing societal inequality and the misuse of culture and identity to divide communities. It's a time when we must not only react to these challenges but actively reimagine and rebuild the future of Europe with culture at its core. 2024 is an extraordinary year in world history and for Europe.
With more than 4 billion people being called to the pools in 77 different countries, voters’ distrust of democracy and its institutions has never been greater. Distrust in institutions can push citizens to turn towards political forces that support the adoption of illiberal agendas. This is also true for Europe.
The European Parliament elections have significant weight in this context. The choices of today will shape the world of tomorrow. If Europe does not gear up its capacity to act together - as a community of shared values but also shared political, military, economic, social and cultural interests, it risks fading away as a relevant and powerful actor and credible partner.
Why does culture matter? Europe is a produ.
