We always see the glass as half empty, even when it's half full!
The European elite no longer dreams of a perfect Europe, but instead complains of an imperfect one.
This widely held mindset has a name: pessimism. And it comes at a price: giving up. When we no longer believe in ourselves, is there still reason to hope?
What is happening to a continent that has overcome so many disasters that it no longer believes in itself and, above all, in its destiny?
For that is what we hear in the criticism of European integration, even though citizens say they have accepted it as the natural framework for public action.
Is it ageing? Fear of losing comfort? Submission? Laziness? Demagoguery?
No one really knows why so many leaders are indulging in this defeatist discourse about the Europe they claim to be building.
Yes, Europe is imperfect. It is not yet capable of replacing our nations in the exercise of power and the use of force.
Yes, building a political entity with such diverse histories is a crazy gamble in the light of history, and its unity seems a distant goal.
Yes, Europe is struggling to understand and engage in power politics.
All of this is both true and false.
Do imperial postures have a future in today's world? Are they not a thing of the past? The question is more than legitimate.
Europe's political unity is far from complete, but it has already built up an economic force comparable to that of other continents.
Having been built for peace and against war, Europe struggles with power relations. This may be regrettable, but it is rather good news on the international stage.
Europe's image in the world is much more positive than that of many other entities.
In addition to its economic successes, it embodies freedom, the rule of law and democracy.
To those who doubt this, I suggest we take a good look at Russia, China and now even America. Do we really need to compare ourselves to others for reassurance?
So, isn't it our duty, all of us, to stop discrediting what we are trying to build, to accept its flaws, to work to correct them and, to do so, even if the road is difficult, to look to the future with confidence?
Just think about this – deep and hard!
