What is preventing Europe from becoming a more human and political community?
How can we make Europe more open and democratic at all levels?

In his introduction speech, Robert Salais referred to two opposing visions for Europe, one, strategic, based on finding common interests between European states and the second, universalist approach, arguing for a European identity which respects the socio-historical diversity of the region and which can serve as a model for other continents.

Robert Salais argues that the current dominant strategic orientation is neoliberalism and this is leading to an identity impasse, creating risks for the future of the European project. He observes that the current dominant strategic orientation is neoliberalism and this is leading to an identity impasse, creating risks for the future of the European project. He suggests that to overturn this tendency Europe needs to return to its original vision, to its universalist approach. For this to work, he outlines some conditions for Europe: the primacy of politics over economics; federalism and democratic deliberation at all levels; priority to fundamental human rights over economic freedoms; reaffirmation of the role of the state in the implementation of collective goals, etc.

Text of presentation

 Biography of Robert Salais

Video of the Conference (French language):