Europe's day: a reflection

On Europe Day, let us remember that peace is not achieved simply through an absence of war, but through an end to the very antagonisms and contradictions driving conflict in all its guises.

By Ian Bancroft

Published: May 08, 2016, 11:05 pm

Wikimedia. CC.May 9. Europe Day. A day for celebrating peace and unity in Europe. And a day for reflecting upon the vision and dreams of the EU’s founding fathers.

Over one hundred years on from the carnage of World War One, Europe today grapples with a new existential crisis. Amidst a devastating economic crisis and a lack of solidarity on refugees, the future of the EU is more frequently and sternly questioned.

The Union’s founding purpose – a peace project emerging from the horrors of war – has been diluted by its achievements; war between its members now inconceivable. Yet the Union remains beset by instability and discontent. Only by understanding the EU as a transformer of conflict more broadly can we appreciate its uniqueness and importance to present and future generations.

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