A personal review of the Future of Europe #EFA24
Despite bearing countless success stories, the European project has a notoriously bad image. EU bashing is as common as Nationalising achievements. How to progress in the delicate contexts we face?
Rescue DEI Trilogy part#2 (summer 2024) Asking the right questions that create moments of truth
European Forum Alpbach (EFA) brings together, since 1945, a fascinating diversity of visionary individuals. What started as a small gathering of resistance fighters and thinkers became a unique multi-gathering of politicians, business people, societal actors and cohorts of well-selected scholarship holders. After a recent revamp, EFA has become an unconventional event with minimum structure and maximum possibilities.
I was fascinated by the event’s close bonds with the region and creative formats including a concert in the church, a banquet in the village centre, an after-party in the car park, planned cable car rides, the hikes and the workshops. (Daniel)
EFA24 focused on 4 thematic areas, Climate, Democracy/Rule of Law, Finance/Economy and Security. Formats included labs, chats/panels, hikes, seminars, morning briefings, rituals, collaborative work sessions and more. From this set-up, the tagline can be understood quite clearly: The event is what make out of it. As a critical Diversity researcher, publisher and practitioner and as a pro-European activist and a Responsible Leader of the BMW Foundation, I found many touchpoints and was able to create a meaningful agenda around two key questions for me and my work:
- How can we regain momentum towards a diverse and inclusive world (that has been developing, overall, since 1945)?
- How can we leverage the successes and learning of EU development to date and shape a peaceful, democratic and human future – globally?
The event allows and encourages to engage in frank and open discussions, especially on issues that could weaken the international institutions crucial to Europe’s global influence. (Anes)
What is Europe and how do we develop it?
It’s become one of my favourite exercises in recent years to discuss ‘what is Europe’ and engage in political, geographical, security, economical and value-focused discourse. The latter tends to be the most unusual for most people while I would argue that it is the essential one. Just as the collective culture of a diverse system is decisive to its ability to create equity, inclusion or belonging. Without understanding the emergence – and changes – of the values that brought the European Communities and the EU together, we cannot speak about enlargement or security. Frankly, I was surprised when panellists said the future development of Europe was mainly security based. While I understand the current context, this would be as short-sighted as the quick enlargement in 2004 was. I missed the key questions about the shared values that hold Europe together, going forward. This would have been another moment of truth (which was the motto of the event).
EFA illustrates that Europe’s diversity is our greatest asset, which we do not utilise enough to create resilience against anti-EU sentiment and populism. (Fabian)
What does Enlargement mean for us?
Growing the European Family was never disputed, yet, the areas and models were and are. On a general level, we discuss Europe of different speeds or, specifically, different enlargements of the Schengen or Euro Zones as well as a new cohort that would be a step change for the EU. At #EFA24, many technicalities, process issues and interdependencies were discussed. What I did not hear were longer-term considerations including the learning from past enlargement – when the Visegrád Group was ‘integrated’ –, aforementioned value questions or the need for internal reforms in the governing of the Union. The latter had been postponed in favour of quick enlargement in 2004 – and see how we got stuck in some of the critical questions. I missed the key questions about making reforms happen and effectively drive enlargement, which would have created another moment of truth.
Also among scholarship holders, very different opinions were represented including different attitudes towards LGBTIQ+; having to discuss terms such as ‘LGBTIQ+ propaganda’ was very challenging for me at first. (Simeon)
What do we see as Europe’s role in the world?
With an understandable focus on current crises, some #EFA24 discussions repeated friendship with the USA and criticism of Russia’s aggression. Considering the advancement of global dialogues in the past few years, questions about our global role and responsibility (!) but also opportunity were quite modest. EFA President, Andreas Treichl, had strong messages and vision on this. In the programme itself, Europe’s opportunities and needs were underrated, e.g. in economic terms or as role model for Diversity. Unfortunately, a new post-colonial understanding of role was only emphasised in the climate context but not politically (Middle-East, Africa?) or in other respects. I missed these questions that could have created additional moments of truth.
Some have still internalised the widespread narrative of white saviourism (Daniel)
The topics were highly relevant and necessary for a deeper understanding of current global issues although I was concerned about the absence of the Palestine-Israel situation. (Anes)
I felt that the sessions were rather ‘diagnostic’ but with no proactive approach and I would have liked more discussions about the risk of democracy reversal, and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza was almost fully ignored. (Arber)
Including more voices (speakers and participants) from the Global south especially the African continent would make the discussions more diverse. (Daniel)
How can DE&I facilitate Europe’s future?
Whether we take our today’s relationships with Latin America, our roles in the Middle East or our partnership with Bosnia-Herzegovina, the understanding of the dynamics of differences – be it cultural, political, historical … – can guide us to new ways forward. Understanding what Al-Andalus or Nelson Mandela have taught us about the need for open dialogues, how to develop respect and how positive coexistence can be created could and should inspire us.
This is even more needed in a world where groups in society (or politics) try to claim one truth that excludes other people’s realities or even identities. Understanding history as a base for the future instead of rewriting it to justify one single present is something to which DE&I can contribute a lot. Including diverse narratives and perspectives helps us cope with the complexity of the world as we know it today.
Equally important, DE&I offers a framework to reconsider Europe’s internal relations and reconfirm our values as a foundation for a prosperous community.
I was very pleased that many queer attendees felt safe to attend Pride parade here as it may not be as safe in their home country. (Florian)
The untapped potential of business partnerships
Leveraging the power, influence and interest of companies is another element that Europe must consider, going forward. We have seen an increasing positioning of European leaders and brands against Nationalism. Although it may be based on business interests, it is a clear support for democracy and freedom that should be recognised. More so, because ‘stay away from politics’ is no longer a dogma when important cornerstones of business success are threatened. This can be seen as a result of asking the right questions and creating moments of truth.
The fact that #EFA24 was once more made possible with the support of dozens of companies that also participated and interacted should be seen as an important sign and the partners can even create more synergies in the future.
The forum is different every year and each year is unique in its own way – that’s what makes it so special (Markus)
