The idea of European unification became a reality only after the harsh lessons of the bloodbath of WWII. The European Union’s major accomplishment is that it ensured lasting peace on a war-ravaged continent, after centuries of almost non-stop strife. It also championed international law and was involved in peace efforts around the world. Although that record is far from perfect, peace should remain the cornerstone of a unified Europe.
But recent geopolitical tensions and Europe’s increasingly peripheral role in global decision making, point to a situation in which peace on this continent is no longer a given. To give an example: The Russian aggression against Ukraine could have been prevented if Europe had an independent and committed policy on the issue. The trend towards a radical re-armament of Europe is also an instance of a new, belligerent consensus on the continent.
In order to ensure peace in Europe and commit to a pacifist role in the world, the European Union needs to emancipate itself militarily, diplomatically and politically and for this to have any substance, a European Federation with a common defense, foreign policy and agenda needs to form. This federal unification is not an easy matter, but if enough citizens of Europe would subscribe to this goal, it can be achieved. Perhaps it can be only achieved piecemeal – a core of European countries agreeing to form a federal entity (even within the EU), open for later accessions. But this entity should uphold international law, wage peace and fight for planetary co-existence.