My Europe - Community

Shape the Future!

“We hold the diversity of Europe in our hands every single day. We pay for our bus tickets with Celtic harps and Maltese crosses, we buy our bread with an Alpine edelweiss or a Coliseum, the newspaper seller is paid with both eagles and owls. The different designs on Euro coins symbolize what it is that makes Europe so unmistakable and strong: different cultures together forming a single entity with common values.
“The protection of the cultural heritage of individual regions is just as important to the European community as the development of a new, common culture. It is a pleasure to see the Frankfurt Future Think Tank supporting young people in shaping this new culture. Through the European Scriptorium, young people from all countries should be given the confidence to tackle the future of Europe head on.
“This is important, as young people understand the EU quite differently than older people do. Perhaps it is possible even to consider young people as “Native Europeans”: they have grown up in an EU without interior borders, and with a common currency. The can move freely between countries and change their place of residence or study without problem. Simultaneously, communication is no longer hindered by borders and instead is carried out internationally in chat rooms, forums and blogs. From this new understanding of what it means to be European, new ideas will grow, along with the implications of these for the economy and for politics.
“In this way I am hopeful that it is not merely a case of us being able to show young people the work of the past and the tangible successes of the present, but that they can help us to reach new heights, to shape the European future.
I am looking forward to reading about your opinions and experiences of Europe and wish all of you much success.”

Dr. Angelika Niebler

Member of the European Parliament

“Europe needs to be self-confident. The project “Bringing Europe to the Hearts of the People” will contribute to this and develop the self-confidence of young Europeans both in rational and emotional terms. This means unleashing the political, economic, social and cultural potential for a future-safe Europe: a Europe that distinguishes itself as a historically unique project of peace, which strikes a unique and intelligent balance between economic performance, cultural diversity, social security and the protection of resources.”

Rudolf Scharping

Former German Minister of Defence

“The European Union has already proven its worth above and beyond the intentions of its founders. The comforts and advantages that have been gained must now be preserved, and we must capitalize on the potential that now exists. It is precisely this that we want to achieve with the European Scriptorium, in that we will support the next generation in dealing and identifying with Europe and common issues, and will spark their concern for the preservation of the European idea.”

Prof. Dr. Manfred Pohl

Founder and CEO, Frankfurter Zukunftsrat (Future Think Tank) and Institute for Corporate Culture Affairs (ICCA).

“These days when I think about the discussions about Greece, the Euro and the financial crisis, I have the impression that some people in Europe have lost their grasp on what a united Europe means for us all.”

former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl am 01.10.2010 in Berlin

“With these words, Helmut Kohl raises an extremely important issue. As such, I particularly welcome the Scriptorium initiative, which aims to motivate young people from all 27 EU member states to publish their contributions on European themes and as a result to initiate a pan-European debate. This should enable the citizens of the 27 EU member states to develop a connection and common identity. The value and necessity of such an initiative becomes clear when we consider that according to the Eurobarometer survey, only 4% of Europeans really think of themselves as Europeans, and that 44% speak no other language apart from their own.

“Delors once said, in relation to the sense of and reason for the EU, that it is about “securing the peace and winning the future”. First of all, “securing the peace” is stating the obvious for the younger generation. We live, travel and work without borders inside the EU, and live peacefully and with mutual respect for one another. But the second dimension, “winning the future” and the role of the EU in doing this, is not taken seriously enough and remains under-communicated.

“This is of central importance, as the EU currently finds itself at a crossroads. The Lisbon Treaty offers the chance for Europe at last to become more coherent, more democratic and more able to assert itself. However, the best treaty in the world will achieve nothing if it is not filled with life. We see the most serious of challenges approaching us; climate change, energy security, organized crime and terrorism are just some examples of the issues which we can only face together as Europeans. At the same time, our values and imagination of the society of the future is being challenged, and not only in terms of politics and economics. The economic crisis shook the foundations of Europe, both its economy and its society. As recently as the debates surrounding the Greek rescue package, it was clear that Europe still lacks a feeling of common identity.

“This is where we need to intervene in order to “win the future”. Identity is the result of a process, a series of reinvention. This process can take place in Europe on the basis of our cultural heritage and our Christian values. Politicians must create the conditions that support a European identity in which central democratic values are supported along with the protection of human rights and an active plurality of opinion. But as politicians we do not carry this responsibility alone – it is the responsibility of the entire society. The development of a common identity must not be forced onto society. For this reason the Scriptorium initiative has great potential. It is with these young people, Europe’s next generation, that the future of Europe will be created. They should discover Europe – its identity, its values and its purpose – and help to make these accessible and understandable for their peers. “Europe is an old lady – The world should pay her more respect” (Pavel Kosorin, Czech Author). This is exactly what the initiators of the Scriptorium project are doing, and I wish the project much success.”

Elmar Brok

Member of the European Parliament

“The Wöhler School is the first school for which a European Scriptorium workshop has been organized. With approximately 1500 pupils and 120 teachers the school is Frankfurt’s largest Grammar School and a recognized UNESCO school, with a profile that fits well with that of the Frankfurt Future Think Tank.

“As such, we can identify with the aims of the Frankfurt Future Think Tank and are delighted that our students have the opportunity to be involved. The challenge of bringing Europe closer to young people in the context of the thematic focus of the school, for example sustainability and health, is one that we are pleased to be tackling with the support of the Frankfurt Future Think Tank.”

Norbert Rehner

Principle at the Wöhler School, Frankfurt

“Europe does not run by itself. Much impulse is needed to convey a European self-image to the younger generation, a self-image that leads to personal involvement in Europe. It is important to motivate the younger generation not only to regard Europe as an economic union there for their advantage, but as a reliable foundation for a peaceful future. The project “Bringing Europe to the Hearts of the People” is an opportunity to contribute to this.”

Mike Barowski

President and CEO of the Academy for Marketing Communication Frankfurt