Dear Friends, Dear Reader,
The EU Competitiveness Agenda was the theme of the fourth ‘Brussels Conference’ organised by EZA at the beginning of February. The year got off to a strong start with this conference which had good attendance, excellent speakers and fascinating debates. What do I remember about it? Competitiveness is not merely a materialistic goal in itself, but makes a contribution to the common good, inclusion and democratic participation. It is important to achieve a balance between economic interests and social protection when simplifying the regulatory environment, while also ensuring better legislation. Governments must also focus on more investment and innovation. In the digital world, priority should be given to developing talents and skills. Here, too, social dialogue and collective bargaining are prerequisites for success. However, no matter how important all this is for guaranteeing Europe’s place in the world and its intended strategic autonomy, we cannot ignore the geopolitical developments that are taking shape. While I read the umpteenth analysis expressing concern about this situation, in the background I can hear, as if by chance, Antonio Vivaldi’s haunting motet ‘Nulla in mondo pax sincera’ (In this world there is no honest peace). It is a piece of music which is about three centuries old, but it could have been composed today. At this time of great uncertainty about the future of Ukraine, we feel even more connected to our Ukrainian friends. Putting up courageous resistance to the Russian aggressor, they are fighting for freedom and dignity, for territorial integrity and for the values of the whole of Europe. This must not be in vain. But the aggressor continues to take the lives of innocent victims while conducting a hybrid war on a far broader scale. It does not stop the American President from telling lies about Ukraine, siding with the aggressor, and questioning the agreed alliance. Not to mention the cynicism that is being shown when it comes to Gaza, the breaking up of normal trade relations and the focus only on self-interest, with the support of oligarchs now also in the West. We are at a turning point, where the EU and its Member States need to show strong leadership in order to obtain a just peace with security guarantees for Ukraine. A coalition of the willing and the creation of a European Defence Fund are necessary for our common security. However, this must not lead to a spiral of rearmament which could make us forget that diplomacy also has a role to play, and that Europe remains a peace project. Democratic decision-making, international law, truth, norms and values must continue to guide us.
As workers and social organisations, we must be aware that it is also about social cohesion and decent living conditions. In the workplace, as volunteers, with family and among friends, we are beacons of hope every day and we build broader solidarity. In the run-up to Easter, despair must make way for hope.