This new era forces Europe to make consciuous choices about its future role in the world. While a joint vision for our continent is missing, we have forgotten about our strengths, shared values and achievements, and the magnitude of the European idea.

Europe’s prosperity still builds on innovation, entrepreneurship and peace dividends from a century that is long gone. A lack of role models and incentives, as well as fragmentation and over-regulation have led us into a state of heavy paralysis and decline.

Europe has grown used to being an American protectorate that cannot defend itself. In a less stable world order, with open wars, refugee crisis and a sentiment of state failure, a fragmented Europe seems taken by surprise, unable to provide full security.

The EU today suffers from democratic deficits and a lack of representation, an emotional disconnect from its citizens, slow decision-making and bureaucratic overload, as well as market barriers, local optimization and fragmentation.

We have overburdened our states with responsibilities, creating unrealistic expectations, overblown authorities, over-regulation, as well as a culture of comfort and apathy. By that, individual agency, active citizenship, and entrepreneurial spirits decay.