Let Us Behave Like the Owners of Europe We Are
A Manifesto by Volker Hassemer
We, the Europeans, are also challenged for the future of our united Europe: so get out of the armchairs, out of the spectator seats, out of the know-it-all attitude and into doing better. Into our own responsibility.
We are the owners of Europe. So let’s behave like owners. Let’s take care of it, let’s increase its benefits, let’s protect it from harm.
You can do so much, you do so much, you succeed in so much: make it a matter of fact to use all this — also — for Europe. Europe depends on the creativity, the — not only — cultural productivity, the commitment, the self-confidence and the ingenuity of its citizens. All this can only come from you. Only you can give all this to Europe. So do it!
“Bottom-Up”, you citizens, you cities and regions of Europe! For too long we, who are after all the basis of Europe, have been on the defensive.
Volker Hassemer is Chairman of the Board of Stiftung Zukunft Berlin. Doctor of laws. Former Senator for Urban Development and Environmental Protection in Berlin, former Senator for Cultural Affairs. Chairman of the Managing Board of “Partner für Berlin” (1996–2002). He is a co-founder of “A Soul for Europe” and President of the Board of Management of the “A Soul for Europe” E.E.I.G.
