Fear of the 'Other'

15 February 2017

Fear of 'Otherness' in Europe

By: Karsten Riise

The fear of "otherness" is rising in Europe, and popular perceptions are wildly distorted.


Some very interesting data have been published from the February 2017 Security Conference in Munich. Many people in Europe have a totally distorted perception of how many Muslims they believe live in their country:

France believes that 35% Muslims live in the country - absurdly wrong, the correct figure is only 7.5%.

Italy believes it has 20% Muslims - the correct figure is only 3.7%

Germany believes 21% Muslims - correct figure 5.0%

Sweden believes it has 17% Muslims - the correct figure is 4.6%

The Netherlands believe 19% Muslims - correct figure 6.0%

Great Britain believes 15% Muslims - correct figure 4.8%

Denmark believes 15% Muslimer - correct figure 4.1%

Hungary and Poland believe they have 6%-7% Muslimer - but in reality they have close to zero percent.

There is a need for a dialogue with those who fear these (often absurd) figures. That will be dialogue exactly with some of those, which many in the political establishments in Europe may want to keep out, and not like to talk with.

Muslim enrichment is a chance. We need a new kind of togetherness in this area. That can open up developments, to good things.

If, however, a stream of refugees becomes too overwhelming at some points in time and space, it can become dangerously disruptive, even destabilising. What we see today are in comparison still relatively small indications of far more consequential events which happen over the next years and decade, if no very, very, good and big ideas are put into action soon.

If the burden of refugees is (like today) merely shifted to just outside the official "perimeter" of Europe (neighboring countries), the problem will not be solved, it will grow. It will just be temporarily moved out of sight, with the danger that it will be forgotten (by Europeans) for too long.

Everybody talks about Russia in European security. I believe Russia can and must become a partner.

A totally new kind of foreign policy - including military, but a more integrated approach, and with military just as a component - is the only real solution for Europe to avoid future destabilisation from refugee calamities. And Africa (1 billion people) together with a wide region stretching eastwards of Europe, should be put on top of a constructive cooperation. This will cost money & effort - lots of it.

It must be a new project for cooperation between Europe and with all of its neighbors.

The need for cooperative action on a whole new level can become a mutual chance.


Karsten Riise
Partner & Editor


CHANGE NEWS
CHANGE MANAGEMENT

EU fast trade and service agreements

This suggestion was rather quickly implemented by the EU after I proposed it to the EU Parliament. The EU Commission chose to detach investment-treaties (which require a long procedure with the member-states) from trade & services agreements, which the EU-Commission can conclude in a fast-track way.



30 January 2017

The EU needs "lego-system" for trade & services arrangements

By: Karsten Riise


The EU needs a comprehensive Africa trade deal, that can help African countries develop by allowing Africa much more access to the European Single Market. See

http://www.bmz.de/en/what_we_do/countries_regions/marshall_plan_with_africa/index.html

The EU should also quickly be able offer an enhanced trade-deal with Mexico, to assist Mexico develop, if Mexico should experience a deterioration of its trade-terms with Mexico's market to the North. When EU relations with Russia normalize, a new trade deal with Russia will be needed. Many more trade deals will be needed for the EU in the future. And of course, the EU after Brexit needs a new deal with the UK.

The ability to close a new trade-deal (or modify one) is a very important "soft-power" in EU's foreign policy and security policy. And sometimes there is need to move rather fast.

All the above examples imply larger degrees of exchange with the EU in goods, services and investments - three of EU's so-called "four freedoms". But all the examples above specifically must exclude the fourth freedom, free movement of labor.

The EU needs a principled approach - with lego-elements to build with The EU needs a concept - a "lego-system" to plug-in various elements to configure new deals with anyone - to avoid "taylor-making" every deal from scratch.

The EU also needs a treaty between all members, where the member states give a mandate (within specified limits) where the Commission with approval from the Council and the Parliament can close new trade deals - without further approval procedure within each memberstate.

The EU Commission should have a power-of-attorney, at document which specifies a range of deal-making options on behalf of all members. All member-states should sign this power-of-attorney to the EU. Member-states should so-to speak "ratify trade-treaties beforehand", on the condition that all final treaties are finally approved by a majorityprocedure in the EU Council and the EU Parliament.
The EU is at risk to lose opportunities in "soft-power" by slow maneuvering.


Karsten Riise
Partner & Editor


CHANGE NEWS &
CHANGE MANAGEMENT