The EU Needs a Reboot

I am a European-American.  My mother is German.  My wife is Danish.  I lived in Europe for 7 years, work there often, and am a proud European-American.  But I feel disenfranchised and resentful of the UK vote to leave the EU, because that vote is not just about the future of the UK.  It is about the future of the EU and the world. 

How selfish of the UK, and the EU, to only allow the British people to vote on this decision. 

A nation, or a collection of nations, is not defined by its geographical borders, language, or historical traditions.  All of us in the world are immigrants from Africa and none of us are just members of one tribe or community.  We are all mixed and mixing.  No nation today can say that its GDP is based on just the output of its own citizens, because that would ignore all the contributions of tourists, commuters, and contract workers, foreign investment, and many others who bring value and productivity to every nation on earth.  Competitive nations of the future must include contributors to its economic and social growth in its democratic processes.  All of us who feel Europe is also part of our past and future should have been included in the Brexit vote.  All Europeans who are also citizens of the EU should have been given a say in the Brexit vote. 

If the British People are EU citizens, and their participation in the EU matters, why didn't Jean-Claude Junker, and all the EU ministers and Prime Ministers, campaign in the UK for the Remain camp?  I read on Mr. Junker's 2014 election website the following:

"I believe in a Europe that invests in its people, a Europe that connects citizens and decision-makers. Let’s stay in touch through my page on facebook, let’s discuss and tweet what’s important in these elections, let’s share moments on flickr and videos on youtube.

But let’s not forget a better Europe will only be built by people who get off their screens and speak out for what they believe in."

Why wasn't he standing with David Cameron, travelling across the UK, tirelessly campaigning and pushing the Brits to remain in the EU.  He wasn't there because he is not elected by popular vote and therefore is not accountable to the people of the UK.  And there is still a strong nationalistic current in the EU in which national leaders of nations and EU institutions refrain from participating in the key decisions of member nations.  But then what's the point of EU citizenship if leaders don't advocate for their positions among all citizens?

I hear EU leaders say that what we need now is more EU not less.  YES.  We wish the leaders would do more than talk about this.  It's time to get off your screens and into retail politics with real citizens amongst the member states - and not just in your own nation.

Brexit could have been avoided if more European leaders had invested more energy helping David Cameron make the case for Remain for far longer.

An inclusive EU of the future will need to expand its visions of leadership and citizenship to grow and thrive.  Leaders will need to get off their screens and speak out for what they believe in and fight for those beliefs in every part of the EU. Citizens should be included in more large and small decisions that effect the them locally and across the Union.  Democracy can become more dynamic, experimental, open and inclusive.  The EU should become the most innovate democratic experiment in the world. 

I applaud David Cameron's decision not to invoke Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty and hope that EU leaders will get out of Brussels and into the the parts of the UK that voted against Brexit and listen to the people and work to improve democracy in the EU.  The UK is still an EU member, as are its citizens, and the vote indicates unmet needs that should be seen as new requirements for change. 

Now's the time for a Reboot in EU thinking and acting.  It's not too late.  And all of us around the world need more Union, not less.