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Reference point and protagonist in the international life Challenges of the third millennium: the millennium of changes  International life has always implied a European dimension. Europe not only means an influential political, economic, spiritual and even military space but also a political-economic area essential to its very history as well as to the universal one.
Essential, great and many are the challenges that seems to announce this third millennium. First and foremost, it can be defined as a millennium of changes. World authorities concerned with the management of change draw our attention to the fact that “we shall no longer solve problems, we’ll seize opportunities” and “we’ll bid our dear profit farewell favoring the boost in value” (the accumulation of value). Secondly, some solutions ought to be found in order to overcome the failure of GATT and the World Trade Organization concerning the reduction of inequalities between rich and poor countries and the removal of tariff and non-tariff barriers between partners of an economic world whose main characteristics are inequity and lack of fair-play. Then, it should be kept in mind that the year 2020 is estimated to bring forth a switch in the economic poles in the world, placing Asia in pole position (particularly South East Asia). At the same time, Europe must play its important part in the ongoing process of defining and redefining the political and economical spheres of influence in the world, given the new terms brought along by the globalization process. In this context the European Union may play an important and successful part in redefining and re-designing the concept of prominent political power. Last but not least, Europe must actually get involved thoroughly, tenaciously, and faithfully in promoting its set of values, in sustaining democracy, in financing the construction and practice of democracy - should there be the case - in cultivating and supporting human solidarity, in order to really bring a solid contribution to changing a world that is still haunted by poverty, illness, lack of essential human rights, and even worse, by the loss of hope in a brighter future. However, Europe should not Export democracy and wealth but help Build these features, taking into consideration and always granting respect to the regional specific and experience. A potential alternative for the future It is our belief that no matter what approach we will adopt concerning the future of Europe it should have as a premise, as a departing point, the EU’s will to accede to a new stage, a new level of performance, of cutting down on bureaucracy, of opening-up, and, mostly, of involving the European citizens in the actual decision-making process. The will of governments is not merely enough! Taking into consideration the affinities as well as the institutional structures (for instance NATO) that bring Europe and the US together I believe that joint, concerted actions will enable the two parts to bring a solid contribution to the long-term development and to the consolidation or strengthening of democracy in Latin America and mostly in Africa. The Balkans are already an area connected to the EU projects, the forwarding of the EU enlargement process - as difficult as it may seem at this point - is beneficial especially in the long and medium terms. The Caucasian area is yet another area that feels drawn to the EU but, in this case, at least for a period of time the solution should bear the form of partnerships. I believe and I put my trust in the future of Europe in the world but, most important, I trust the world to discover and re-discover a model in Europe. Far from a flawless model indeed, but still a model. Octavian RUSU - Biography |
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"We live in a global world where travel and communication brings us to the far corners of the world. But what do we know of the diversity of peoples living in Europe?"