Home>“There is only one way and that’s forward”

20.06.2016

“There is only one way and that’s forward”

On 14 June 2016, Sciences Po, the Montreal Centre for International Studies (CERIUM) and the European Union Center of Excellence (EUCE- Université de Montréal/McGill University) hosted a private conference in Montreal about the “Future of Europe”. Pierre Moscovici, EU Commissioner and former French economy and finance minister, discussed the subject with Enrico Letta, dean of the Sciences Po Paris School of International Affairs and former Italian prime minister.

Both Commissioner Moscovici and Dean Letta made a passionate plea for “more leadership in Europe”, saying that it was “not an issue of having weak leaders in office, but rather current leaders needing to be more affirmative about Europe”.

Enrico Letta on the refugee crisis: “Europe has just suffered two of the worst crises in post WWII history”

Calling the financial crisis and the refugee crisis “two of the worst crises in post WWII European history”, Moscovici and Letta both recognised that the foundations of the EU “had been shaken”. Yet they consider that Europe has proven its relevance precisely because “no single state could have faced those crises alone”. “The governments of Europe equipped themselves with the tools to face the financial crisis; they are in the process of doing the same for the refugee crisis,” said Letta. “What made it especially difficult was how quickly the two crises followed each other, but Europe is learning from that.”

Pierre Moscovici on Euroscepticism: “We must fight populism with popular arguments”

On the issue of rising discontent with the EU, Pierre Moscovici stated that “pro-Europeans are not doing enough to make a positive case for Europe”. In his view, pro-Europeans are leaving “the field open” to Euroscepticism by barely countering the arguments against European integration. “Mainstream political parties need to have a clear commitment to Europe; timid acquiescence doesn’t cut it anymore.”

Referring to the Trump phenomenon in the United States, Letta mentioned that “the issue of rising populism was not a Europe-specific problem”. But both politicians agreed that this was no time for “taking comfort in comparison”; European political leaders have to win back the trust of the electorate and that means taking a positive stance. “We must fight populism with popular arguments,” said Moscovici.

Enrico Letta on Brexit: “Whatever happens with Brexit, there is only one way and that’s forward.”

The conference was held just a week before the “Brexit” referendum. Moscovici and Letta were united in their wish to see the UK vote to remain in the European Union. If the UK chose to leave “it would be a blow” but “it wouldn’t lead to a domino effect in Europe”.

“Whatever happens with Brexit, there is only one way and that’s forward. If we don’t move forward, we will become irrelevant in the new world order,” Dean Letta concluded.

By Christophe Fortier-Guay, Sciences Po's manager for Canada

Related links