Why does the EU fail to inspire enthusiasm?
To counter widespread Euroscepticism the EU wants to reinvent itself and reignite the citizens' enthusiasm for Europe. Only on the question of how this is to be done is there a lack of consensus. The press asks how the EU could win back the people's hearts, and whether they fail to realize how much they benefit from the European project.
A lottery to save democracy
To combat the growing indifference and weariness with politics journalist Juri Boschytsch advocates an idea put forward by Belgian historian David Van Reybrouck whereby MPs are appointed by lottery:
“Initially, the idea of introducing universal suffrage seemed absurd to many. They were incensed: how can the uneducated people take part in political processes? It turned out that they can. Today the doubts are of a different nature: should representatives of the people be selected by a lottery? And if so, why? The answer: to overcome the crisis in which not only Germany but the entire system of Western democracy finds itself today.”
The Czechs' unreasonable Euroscepticism
In the most recent Eurobarometer survey 36 percent of Czechs expressed their displeasure with the EU - the highest figure in the EU. Jiří Pehe, chief advisor to former president and human rights activist Václav Havel, explains why in Právo:
“The reasons are to be found in the problems with our national identity and in the tragic weakness of our political elites. ... In a country whose economic structure depends on the EU almost no parties would actively support further integration. The Europe-policy of election-winner Ano is a mystery. And while President Zeman maintains that he is pro-European, like his predecessor Václav Klaus he never misses an opportunity to drag the 'incompetent' EU over the coals. A risky game that could well backfire.”