Project-Syndicate
MUNICH – The motto of the
United States of America is: “E pluribus unum” (Out of many, one). The
European Union’s motto is “In varietate concordia,” which is officially
translated as “United in diversity.” It is difficult to express the
differences between the US and the European model any more clearly than
this. The US is a melting pot, whereas Europe is a mosaic of different
peoples and cultures that has developed over the course of its long
history.
That
difference raises the question of whether it is worth striving for a
United States of Europe – a concept that many refuse to accept, because
they do not believe in the possibility of a unified European identity. A
single political system like that of the US, they insist, presupposes a
common language and a single nationality.
Perhaps
the idea of a United States of Europe, the dream of post-war children
like me, can never be realized. But I am not so sure. After all, deeper
European integration and the creation of a single political system offer
solid, practical advantages that do not require a common identity or
language. These advantages include the right to move freely across
borders, the free movement of goods and services, legal certainty for
cross-border economic activities, Europe-wide transportation
infrastructure, and, not least, common security arrangements.
