Select a language
Pondering the low turnout in the European elections, Gareth Harding in the WSJ Europe argues that if the EU has managed to create institutions it has failed to create “an electorate or demos”. A disconnect exists between Brussels “and the vast majority of Europeans who view politics through a national prism.”
Low-cost airlines, however, mean Europeans “are criss-crossing the continent like never before.” Continental integration, he argues, owes as much to Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary as to the EU founding fathers. Further evidence that a “people's Europe is slowly emerging” can be seen in the success of the Champions League. “If sport can become Europeanized,” he concludes, “there is no reason why politics cannot be. All we need now is the political equivalent of a Zinedine Zidane”.
Was this article useful? If so we are delighted!
It is freely available because we believe that the right to free and independent information is essential for democracy. But this right is not guaranteed forever, and independence comes at a cost. We need your support in order to continue publishing independent, multilingual news for all Europeans.
Discover our subscription offers and their exclusive benefits and become a member of our community now!
