Читать книгу Togetherness - A new heritage deal for Europe - Hermann Parzinger - Страница 7

The past is never over.

Our history is not a closed book.

And bygones are not bygones. [1]

Whether we like it or not, we are all intrinsically connected to our past. Europe’s cultural heritage is the direct result of our ancestors’ deeds, efforts and decisions. Past and present generations have built – together – a complex and multilayered Gesamtkunstwerk which we are now responsible for safeguarding and improving. It is time to acknowledge that this shared heritage, this sense of togetherness, is the real foundation on which Europe is built.

Europe’s cultural heritage is a vast, multifaceted mosaic that is both complex and interrelated. It does not belong to a specific time period or a single community or country. It shows us how our lives are connected to a long line of generations coming before and after us. Our cultural heritage holds up a mirror to who we were, who we are and who we aspire to be, and helps us to interpret our past successes and failures. When we dig a little deeper, we quickly discover that all our heritage is, in a real sense, as much local as it is European, and often connected to other cultures around the world.

The COVID-19 pandemic that swept through our planet like a tsunami is a clear reminder that we are not living in isolation. Viruses do not respect borders, political affiliations or nationalities. The pandemic showed us just how fragile our societal fundamentals are. It also made clear to most Europeans that we are far more than just a collection of countries. As the founding fathers and mothers of the European Union knew all too well, our Union is not the beginning of our European story; it is a consequence. Europe is not an abstract, political creation; it is the result of the past and present interconnectedness of everyone living in Europe.

ICONIC HERITAGE SITES LIKE THE ACROPOLIS IN ATHENS REPRESENT THE CULTURAL FOUNDATION OF THE ENTIRE EUROPEAN PROJECT.

We are so much more than a cluster of trade agreements, a military alliance or a research consortium. Europe cannot be defined by decisions on competition rules, consumer protection, privacy or labour laws alone, as vital as they all are. The real Europe is primarily shaped by our connections, as individuals and communities, beyond bias and borders, languages and time. These relationships built the foundation of our Europe as we know it today. For all its grave consequences, the COVID-19 pandemic might also give us an opportunity to rediscover, rethink and reclaim our common ground and purpose.

The way forward to a safe, prosperous, sustainable and inclusive Europe has to be defined despite our national, local and personal differences. We have to focus on what brings us together, not what divides us, and our cultural heritage is what connects this complicated puzzle. If we want Europe to be a beacon of hope and solidarity in a vulnerable world, we have to rediscover and reassert our common ground and our shared foundation – our togetherness.

“ How can Europe fulfil its promise if we do not reinvent the European project together?

The COVID-19 crisis made clear, in an unprecedented way, that unexpected developments can fundamentally change our society in an instant. The future undoubtedly will reveal other threats to our safety, health, climate and environment. Our way of life, our ability to compete on the global market, our social structures and values, including the rule of law, will be challenged. How can Europe fulfil its promise if we do not reinvent and redesign the very basis of the European project and come up with innovative and bold solutions for a better and more sustainable future together?