HAPPY ANNIVERSARY EU!
25 March 2007

Yesterday I celebrated EU's 50th anniversary at a fabulous concert in the park next to the Atomium. Some people had been worrying that the occasion wouldn't be celebrated enough here in Europe's capital, but the concert turned out to be a great success! Perhaps it was a metaphor to invite old stars like the Scorpions and Kim Wilde, who next to more "modern-era" singers illustrated that times are changing. Maybe this was why Scorpions didn't play "Wind of Change", which was first made at the time of the German re-unification and the fall of the Berlin wall - today Europe is looking forward and instead they played a new song called "Humanity". Everyone got dancing to Las Ketchup and their big summer of 2003 hit "Asereje", Lou Bega's "Mambo Mo. 5" and "Volare" with the Gypsy Kings.

Meanwhile our political leaders flew to Berlin for celebrations today Sunday - today it is 50 years since the Treaty of Rome was signed establishing the European Economic Community, paving the way for the EU we are having today. The among its critics much discussed Berlin Declaration was also signed by Angela Merkel and José Manuel Barroso. Although not any surprises were included in the Declaration - which Eurosceptics believe illustrates the weakness of the EU - I believe that it is the right time for a look back at what has been achieved sofar.

Like any organisation or company, the EU needs a marketing strategy: The EU desparately needs to improve marketing itself and its achievements. Forthe 50th anniversary the Commission published a booklet explaining 50 achievements - things that have made a difference to Europeans - no matter if you are a Eurosceptic or a Europhile. BBC published one article "Ten things the EU has done for you" which I think, in a very simplistic way, outlines some major achievements: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/6455879.stm EU sceptics of course argue that the Berlin Declaration is a disappointment and as empty and without direction as the EU is, as it doesn't mention the difficult issues such as the Constitution, the possible membership of Turkey and climate change. Indeed, there was a lot of dicussion about the purpose of the Treaty in the last few months about its purpose - and the Germans were not left with an easy task. How would 27 countries decide what such a symbolic Declaration should contain? In the end it reads:

"The unnatural division of Europe is now consigned to the past. We, the citizens of the European Union, have united for the better. We preserve in the European Union the identities and diverse traditions of its member states. We are united in our aim of placing the EU on a renewed common basis before the European Parliament elections in 2009".

I am happy with this. Which birthday party should be spoiled by a the birthday-child presenting a list of his or her future and urgent challenges and problems? No, let us look back -happily- at what has been achieved over the last 50 years and at the same time acknowledge that we are facing new times and other kinds of challenges. The future of this continent now belongs to another generation, a generation which has not experienced war and food shortages. Earlier this week I went for a dinner with representatives of the Scottish Youth Parliament here in Brussels. I was amazed by their forward-looking spirit and visions. I felt that there is hope for the future.