The European Connection

The Library of Alexandria has always been one of the most cherished memories of Antiquity: the largest, most comprehensive biblioteke of the world, founded in the third century BC and destroyed in one of the many wars of the classical age (some time between Ceasar’s conquest of Egypt and the Muslim invasion in 642 AD).

But now, Europe is trying to rebuild it in the modern age, without endless corridors or vulnerable volumes. With the slogan of ‘connecting cultural heritage,’ a team based in the Dutch National Library is building Europeana, “website giving users direct access to some 2 million digital objects, including film material, photos, paintings, sounds, maps, manuscripts, books, newspapers and archival papers.” By 2010, they plan to have 6 million digital objects. 

If what happened some days ago when the prototype launched is any indication, there definitely is a market for Europeana. Now the question is what types of information will be included in Europe’s cultural DNA database and how European citizens will react to it. But at least everyone, you included, can contribute…

Back in the day, when the euro was launched, many of Europe’s finest minds said it would not last. There were many op-eds, articles, and even books written about how it would end like the Latin Monetary Union. Quite strikingly, however, this time History does not seem to be repeating itself. Au contraire.

Just a few weeks ago, when Iceland became the first sovereign victim of the financial crisis, a formerly anti-EU country changed its views on economic integration and even monetary union literally overnight. Granted, it took a crisis with the UK, the nationalization of its three banking giants, and rumors of default. WIth the krona in free-fall and the government between a rock and a hard place, it is not surprising that Iceland has fallen in love with Europe. The case for monetary integration is not merely about exchange of goods and services, but, perhaps more importantly these days, about stability in times of financial turmoil.

According to FT columnist Wolfgang Munchau, the same may happen to none other than the UK, the euro’s worst enemy. His great column is linked here. I think he is right: It is in Britain’s best macroeconomic interest to consider joining the monetary union, strengthening the European Central Bank institution, keeping London as the world’s financial center, and moving forward on European integration. 

But how realistic is it? As Muchau admits, it would take a change in the Labour government’s policy, a vote in the Commons, and even a positive referendum vote, all of which seem utterly utopian. And yet, as the economic crisis deepens around the globe, perhaps it is not a bad idea to dream…

Today, I published a column on the editorial page of The Harvard Crimson on the many foreign affairs challenges facing the incoming Obama administration. It is linked here.

For most of it, I focus on European affairs, since I believe the bilateral relationship with the EU will be crucial not only in terms of state-building in Afghanistan, but also when it comes to Russia. In the last 12 hours, news broke that Russian President Medvedev explicitly asked Obama to rethink the missile shield plan, a cherished Bush administration military technology that has infuriated the Kremlin’s hawks. Although I believe Obama will have to reconsider the plan, at least some elements within the US military disagree.

One thing is clear: It would be best for all involved if the US made its mind about the shield with specific research about its feasibility and with good communication with the EU, for interceptor sites will be deployed in Poland and possibly the Czech Republic.

I just came back from a breakfast at the Kennedy School of Government with the European Commissioner for Health, Androulla Vassiliou. Her portfolio covers EU policy on human health, food safety, and animal welfare; with such topics to focus, the conversation was very interesting and informed, with guests ranging from GSAS visiting scholars to Business School students. 

Most importantly, Commissioner Vassiliou’s speech further convinced me of how desperately the EU would have needed the Lisbon Treaty. But given the outcome of the Irish referendum earlier this year, it falls to the courts to further the integrationist agenda within European institution. With regards to health issues, the European Court of Justice has pronounced itself for an “inherent right to seek health protection” within the EU, which has moved both Brussels and national governments to address transnational needs for citizens. This is a positive development. 

For example, Vassiliou’s Cross Border Patient Rights Directive adds freedom of decision to existing health rights for European citizens. Today, EU citizens can receive healthcare wherever they are in the EU as long as they qualify for it in their home country, with their government footing the bill. But with this new directive, patients will have the freedom to travel around and seek treatment wherever they please; thereafter, their national government will reimburse them for the amount it would have cost them to provide the same treatment. The difference, for now, will be paid for by the citizen. With this sort of scheme, the agenda of integration advances; citizens get further freedom, and the national governments retain control of their health systems and need not pay extra for their citizens’ healthcare choices. For more information on this, see Vassiliou herself discuss it. 

As I have argued elsewhere, the more integration, the better; EU member states should focus on passing the Lisbon Treaty. But in the meantime, EU executive directives are working toward some of the same worthy goals. 

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Even in European news spheres, all focus today seems to be devoted to the election in America. Lacking exit poll information because of the time difference, some of the most prestigious newspapers in the Continent – including The Telegraph in the UK,  El Pais in Spain, Le Monde in France, and La Repubblica in Italy – all have cover stories about the record turnout across the United States. 

Media everywhere has done an impressive job convincing us all just how important the Obama-McCain choice is for the country and for the world. But unless we distrust the most recent polls, January 20th, 2009 will see the inauguration of Barack Obama as President of the United States. InTrade has spoken; the conclusion seems foregone…

From a historical perspective, however, I believe it crucial to consider the reversal of a trend in American politics that we can trace back to the 19th century. In the advertisement to his second volume of Democracy in America (1863), Alexis de Tocqueville remarked: “The Americans have a democratic state of society, which has naturally suggested to them certain laws and certain political manners. It has also created in their minds many feelings and opinions which were unknown in the old aristocratic societies of Europe. It has destroyed or modified the old relations of men to each other, and has established new ones. The aspect of civil society has been much altered as the face of the political world.” The implication is that America is invariably ahead, and for better or worse, Europe follows. 

But what now? As Obama conquers the presidency, I wonder how the country will respond to his promised shift in education, healthcare, and foreign policy; a move that will, ultimately, move the US closer to the Continent than it has been in recent time. The Republican Party may well descend into civil war, and the perennial Blue states may celebrate at last, but as Karl Rove taught us in 2000 and 2004, there is more to America than the coasts; as the “face of the political world” changes yet again, how will they react? 

As Napoleon is believed to have said, “the most dangerous moment comes with victory.”

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Dear all,

Welcome to European Connection, a blog of the Center for European Studies. First off, I wanted to let you all know how much of a pleasure it is for me to be writing on this new medium. Perhaps it was not the best idea to name a blog after a drug trafficking scheme from the 1960s and 1970s. And yet, it not only serves as inspiration for William Friedkin’s filmic masterpiece, but it is also a fitting symbol of the global connections we all witness today.

‘Globalization’ may have become a clichéd term, but I hope this blog will become a way for members of our community at Harvard and in America to be in touch with news from Europe and European perspectives on global issues. Welcome to TEC…

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