More than 50 years ago, Robert Schuman, the former French minister of foreign affairs, called on France and Germany to work on coal and steel production. The proposal united the two nations with a grueling history after facing economic devastation during World War I.
Schuman’s declaration inspired other countries to join the initiative and work towards peace. The European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) was created a year later, which eventually evolved into the European Union (EU).
At first glance, the EU seems to be tackling social issues consistently. However, there are still so many challenges that the region and parliament face daily.
On February 24, 2022, when Russia launched an invasion of Ukraine, the European Parliament’s leaders expressed full support for Ukraine and their people. Immigration policies were changed, such as allowing Ukrainian refugees to keep their national driving licenses and exempting them from applying for the EU driving license.
However, the war has also impacted the EU’s mission towards peace. When the EU came together to figure out a solution for collective diplomacy, many countries had to decide quickly whether to align themselves with the European parliament. For example, Finland and Sweden have historically shunned NATO membership. But due to the war, they joined NATO. So as the war continues, the EU has to continue to make sacrifices for peace.
Moreover, other issues within the EU are continuously affecting economic and political development.
Some of these issues include gender inequality and nationalism. In Europe, women earn 15% less on average than men, and statistics show that women have to work an extra 51 days a year to earn the same as men. The highest gender pay gaps are in Estonia and Germany.
Multiple reports have also shown that right-wing nationalism in Europe is increasing. As a result, immigrants, people of color, and Muslims have been attacked. This leads to more societal inequality as minority groups continue to be marginalized.
However, the main cause of many of these social issues is income inequality.
There continues to be a divide between Western and Eastern Europe in average income, and households in Eastern and Southern Europe continue to struggle financially. What’s more, the wealth-to-income ratio continues to be higher in Europe than in the United States.
The EU is working to respond to these issues with new policies.
To ensure fair pay, the European Commission plans to introduce pay transparency that requires companies to publish how much they pay their workers. Since women in Europe traditionally take care of the household, EU law and member states are pushing to establish a work-life balance policy for those on parental leave, allowing for more flexible working options.
In regards to far-right politics, many are saying that it’s currently a crisis for the EU. But on Europe Day, May 9, we can be the changemakers.
We can start by educating ourselves on the issues affecting Europe, researching, and inviting others to join. If you live in the EU and are eligible to vote, you can research the different parties and choose leaders who aim to address cultural, gender, and religious diversity. By doing so, you’re creating change, allowing marginalized voices to be heard.
Moreover, we can continue standing in solidarity with European nations, especially Ukraine, which is going through war. We can donate, support people fleeing the war, and host Ukrainian refugees.
And to work towards peace, we can continue advocating and standing in solidarity with others and speak out against prejudice or discrimination. We can continue to engage in peacebuilding efforts within Europe and bring up issues that are neglected by the EU.
For more resources, visit PICUM and Migration Policy Institute.
Featured image via Mathias Reding on Pexels
