End of 2018

To my Portuguese readers, today I sent a message closing the year 2018 with three short sentences about Taoism. I should do the same for my international readers. But before, I should say that 2018 was a complex year. That’s the best introduction to a philosophical approach to such complexity. Now, I add the three words that summarise the phrases I wrote in Portuguese: accept, connect and smile.

And I wish all of you a very tranquil end of 2018.

The event of the year: Brexit

From a European perspective, Brexit is the leading issue of 2018. At least for many EU leaders and British politicians that spent a great deal of the year discussing the matter. It has also been the key theme for people who comment on EU affairs. Including for myself, as it was recurrent subject in my weekly radio programmes.

It is not yet clear, as the old year comes to its conclusion, what will be the final act of such a political drama. Is it to end as a Shakespearean tragedy? Or, are we going to watch a final scene inspired by Mr Bean’s approach to film-making?

It’s quite interesting to end the year with such a dilemma in the air. But the matter is extremely serious, and it will dominate a good chunk of the coming year’s political agenda. Clarity should therefore be the word to wish for the New Year. But, like so many wishes, this one might also end up unfulfilled.

Poverty in the EU

Recent data shows that one in 10 European workers lives in a household that is statistically classified as poor. This is undoubtedly a high percentage of people. They work but their income is not enough to cover the full range of their basic needs. Very often, they are the only source of income in their nuclear family because they are single or divorced people with small children at their charge.

Childcare is an expensive line in the European families’ budgets. As such, if there is an entry point for any programme aiming at addressing poverty, this is an obvious one. Social systems must be geared towards providing better help to parents. Childcare and schooling, from a very early age up to the end of mandatory education, must be free – and some additional cash made available – for those parents that have low levels of income. That would be money well spent, both in terms of poverty reduction and the education of the new generations. It would also have the benefit of reducing the chances of poor people being tempted by populist politicians.

The leader simplifies and proposes a direction

We should not confuse simplification with populism and dogmatism. Simplification is a leadership task that helps to decode and elucidate complex issues. It’s also about giving direction to the necessary action.  

2019 European elections

The elections for the EU Parliament will take place in May 2019. No need to tell you that no political party has invited me to run. Fine! Actually, I am not a member of any party and have no close friend as a party leader. Those are two very strong reasons.

But, if I were campaigning for such election and had to chose one single message to focus the agenda, I would build it around protection. The EU citizens must be sure that the political leaders are concerned and give priority to people’s security. And I would make sure that security would be understood in a wider sense. It’s not just physical security in a traditional way that I would be talking about. It’s protection against a span of risks, including new forms of poverty and other related social hardships.

The European common project must be perceived to be about a Europe that protects. And about safeguarding values and standards of leaving. Values might be considered as easier to defend. That would be a mistaken view. They are as threatened as the rest. Therefore, the message about protection calls for a comprehensive view. At the same time, it must be simple to explain and easy to catch.

This is true throughout the EU, notwithstanding the economic differences and the cultural specificities of each country.