“The crisis introduced Europe, but it didn’t make us to love Europe” said Mrs. Marietta Giannakou, Greek MEP in Security and Defense Committee, in an interview Readyo.gr
The question was clear: Why vote in the European elections?
Thucydides also said: “τόν τε μηδὲν τῶν δε μετέχοντα οὐκ ἀπράγμονα, ἀλλ’ ἀχρεῖον νομίζομεν”, which means that “the one who is not engaged in politics, indeed, we don’t think of him as lazy but useless.” A harsh name, but partially true. Citizenship means respect to us. And the European Union is enlisted in our “commons”.
For better or for worse, Greece is the 10th member of the European Union for 33 years. Over these 33 years, it has experienced many crises in foreign policy but also in the economy. “The good comes from abroad, not from Brussels,” say the Greeks, desperate from a deeply layered crisis. But when a member state is in crisis and it does not stand for itself, recession is spotted in the Union it belongs. Did the crisis in Greece is simple coincidence with the crisis in Europe? Will we eventually get out of the crisis together, as we entered?
Now, in times of crisis, there is a greater need for the citizens to support the future of their country through the future of the Union. For this reason, it is essential for the Greek MEPs to participate in the major European parties, which easily influence public opinion so that our country can be represented more directly.
As European citizens, on May 25, 2014, we can vote up to four MEPs. Twenty-one Greek MPs in the total of 751 MEPs is not considered luxury. However, there have been efforts in order to motivate the irritated and frustrated people who don’t want to vote: the number of Greek MEPs elected in each combination will double, so the ballots can be more representative.
Participation in European elections also means involvement in negotiations that shape everyday life and our way of living. It’s a fact that 75% of the rules and laws of the Member States are produced by the European Union. The European Commission proposes. The European Parliament decides to approve or not the proposals. They have, namely, increased powers in relation to other institutions. It is the only morally legitimized body of the European Union as it is the only one which members are selected by the European people.
Let’s see it from another side: In short, we all know in what sector the European Union is responsible for making the decisions. However, how would we be without it?
The Cost of a Non existing European Union.
Many people will agree that everything would be better. Greece would stand alone in politics with its currency, strong in a geostrategic view. It would not be contempt and disrespected from any foreign political person or television report. It could be like Germany or even like America…
Are we sure? We have always had debts. We have always had rivalries and disputes with our neighbors. Traditionally, the politicians that have been elected were corrupt and untrustworthy.
Greece without Europe means Greece with no development, no results, no money, no opportunities for progress abroad, without transportation, without a high level of research – education – culture, with high prices on goods, with difficulty in traveling. I don’t disagree that we could gain all these on our own, but I doubt how quickly and how effectively we would be able to obtain them.
After each crisis Europe is changing. It is important that we participate in this change, too. Then Europe will be different.
Maybe it’s time to let our personal interests aside? We are ready to decide? Because, fortunately, we yet have the right to make decisions alone.
Katerina Chliara, Student, International and European Studies