In a panel chaired by the BBC’s Europe editor Katya Adler; Maurice Gourdault-Montagne, Helen Mountfield and Simon Schama explored these challenges, touching on themes of burgeoning populism and disenfranchisement with the European Union in Britain and on the continent.
The discussion was dominated almost entirely by the issue of Brexit. With the outcome of Britain’s leaving the EU still unclear, there was a tone of uncertainty as the panel discussed the best way to maintain relationships and stability. As Montagne, Secretary General of the French Foreign Ministry, put it: “the major challenge is to remain united”. The speakers also emphasised the EU’s own responsibility to engage its member states and convince them of the validity of liberal democracy.
Mountfield, a barrister, spoke of a loss of faith in European institutions amongst many citizens, which had created a distance between officials and ordinary people. She asserted that people need to feel engaged and listened to, and that the potent power of nationalism had provided an outlet for virulent anti-European sentiment. Whilst the talk was unable to provide many answers to the decline of European dominance, it did exemplify the fact that, as Schama claimed, Brexit has “made us engaged citizens again”.
If you liked this, you might enjoy seeing Timothy Garton Ash on Saturday 2nd of June at 4pm.