With a history equally rich and intensely, almost obsessively evoked in the discourse regarding European unity, our title phrase has a simple yet valuable meaning. It basically refers to the European Union and to all declaratory, legal or pragmatic actions that are adequately and rigorously taken so that this “union” is protected from trivialities, rendered efficient, and perceived in an equal and unbiased manner by all the parties that willingly joined it - the European citizens and the countries they belong to. What people often keep on forgetting is the fact that this unity is in its entirety a system of “specific” values that we like to proudly call European. These values express themselves in a universal framework and yet stand out, due to their “European” nature that is unique and distinctive.

          The system of values making the basis on which the European unity has been built is “European”. It is perceived as such due to the fact that, from a historical point of view, it originates from the European history and consciousness, and, perhaps to an even greater extent, due to the fact that it has been tested and it manifested itself as European. One of the results these processes have produced is the actual birth of the European Union, to which this system of values is one of the key binding factors that makes the “European idea” work and endure.

          After all, how should we understand the structure of this European system of values? Without naming any, since they are well known, we will provide a simple answer by stating that all the values the Europeans claim as their own, as far as their identity is concerned, are a summum of concepts and practices. They have been the beacon of the evolution of this continent for centuries, and, most of all, they have helped overcome the major obstacles it faced - including the two world wars which started in Europe, not elsewhere. The practices we are referring to would include: the codification of human rights and freedoms, social equality, the development and promotion of the rule of law and of a social structure where no one is above the law, democracy in all its forms of manifestation, prosperity for all and everyone’s contribution to its achievement, the use of dialogue instead of force in the resolution of conflicts, solidarity as a pillar or as a weapon against segregation, xenophobia, and racism in all their forms, and the list could go on.

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          In the context of globalization and the new challenges and confrontations that Europe has to face in the second decade of the 21st century, one may notice and should acknowledge the appearance of certain rifts that tend to deepen. We are speaking about recognizing and defining the European system of values on one hand, and believing, using and abiding by it on the other.

         In this respect we are mostly referring to a growing tendency that manifests itself on a social and political level - especially among the political elites – towards a more and more obvious denunciation and criticism of those values, whether taken separately or as a whole. We are referring to an idealistic going back “to the roots” and to the values and reminiscences of our national identities. We are equally referring to “controlled democracy” or “liberal democracy”. The driving power of these tendencies is, sadly, generated by selfish mercantile electoral reasons, and not by some patriotic or identity impulses. They give birth to harmful populism and to nihilistic and extremist attitudes, in total contradiction to the concept of the “European idea” and the construction of a unity that functions through solidarity and diversity.

          There are many arguments that support the idea that the becoming and fulfilment of the European Union coincides, during these modern times, with the history of the process of institutionalized unification of the continent. It is good to highlight this idea especially in a time when, this fall, the same union faces, for the first time, what could be just the beginning of an institutional and judicial separation that the imaginary public called “Brexit”. Tired of either a warring past or the heavy burdens imposed for decades, the European population sought healing in the ideal of unity. This diversity can be seen on a national/state level as well as on a regional and provincial one and, just like the European history, is a product of history in all its forms of manifestation.

What kind of conceptual value does the famous slogan of “two-speed Europe” have when “Brexit” is a reality and the unionist rhetoric is broken by the threat of other possible exits bearing the names of other member states?

         Undoubtedly, the process of evolution is never linear, in harmony and convincing. However today, 26 years after the signing of the Maastricht Treaty and only ten years since the Treaty of Lisbon was adopted, there are many Europeans - and we are not talking about the political elites but about mere “European” citizens - who discover that the people living on this continent still discriminate - and quite obsessively - between Western and Eastern Europe. This division in a Europe dominated by the elitist Schengen is characterized by what is complained to be a sluggish, or total lack of communication between a Centre that gives orders and a periphery which is meant to always execute them. There are also a lot of “Europeans” worried by the safety of their employments or by the difference in the quality of goods, depending on where they are on the map of the united Europe…

          In the first half of this year, Romania held the rotational presidency of the European Union that started under the tunes of Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy”, and ended in the solemn rhythms of the music inherited from the Romanian composer George Enescu. The track record of this presidency are far more honourable, as it was the result of a unique experience and sustained efforts that only ignorant or spiteful people can disagree with. Setting up the budget of the European Union in the period following the year 2020, guaranteeing the functioning of the European Single Market, improving digitalization and domestic security, countering terrorism, managing the challenges of migration, real institutional cooperation, the motivational discourse regarding European security, Europe as a global actor or a Europe of common values are only some of the issues and challenges that are worth taking into account in the future. Romania alone could not have done more than the associated European free wills.

          And yet Europe hasn’t reached perfection, or the limits of the operational and ethical parameters codified by its founding treaties. This is a serious disregard to the European project, as long as the basic system of values of the European idea won’t provide a different perspective to the citizens that feel cast aside or even forgotten, Europeans that keep on seeing the European unity as an artificial community, in comparison with the enduring and common values offered by their national identity. Such a perception feeds, at least for the societies in Central and Eastern Europe, the sense that to Western Europe this system of values is all about the rhetoric of the treaties and bureaucracy, while, in reality, it follows a double standard strategy that considers Central and Eastern European citizens more as a lesser category whose fundamental duties lie with strictly following the “rules“ set by the Brussels decision-making elites.

          What can be done?

         It is true that, in order to counter the challenges that the European project is facing, a real and honest return to the system of values making the essence and nobility of the European unity in all its diversity and entirety. However, at the risk of repeating the same clichés and stereotypes, we believe that from this perspective there are two things we should do immediately and decisively - admit and accept the existence of flaws and take explicit action at the level of the community in order to make things right again. So, we should permanently pay the utmost and closest attention to the pan-European policies regarding culture and education. They should become the encouraging tools to spreading the belief that the set of cultural, spiritual and moral values needs the equal and clear commitment of all European societies and their citizens, especially when it comes to the emerging young generations. It is imperative that the European education and teaching systems should position and mould themselves more decisively towards fighting against the influential superficiality that the mass and social media promote. If the structural plan provides solutions - still promoting equality - the effort shifts from concept to form. As far as education is concerned, the European Union is still fighting conflicts at the level of consciences and beliefs - secular not religious.

         Since a new-born is European anywhere on this continent we must decide what chances to develop and identify we give to the new citizen. We need a European teaching and educational discourse to be promoted in elementary and high schools. At the same time, we should reject the idea that an European education has the potential to undermine the historical identity, and in order to be convincing the European education should not prohibit the ideals of the “other Europe”. This prohibition will fade very fast in the physical, sanitary and professional framework of the school. It goes without saying that improving education is firstly the countries’ responsibility, however, an institutional European Union can encourage and facilitate national efforts.

        The European values face threats and challenges coming from both within and the outside of the European Union. And their stand-out against existing or emerging counter-patterns must firstly reveal the deep causes of anti-European actions.

          It is a fact that the European idea is not free of weaknesses and imperfections, and the way we deal with them should consist in proving that the European project has the ability to self-improve and remain a means to accomplishing and strengthening the harmony and balance between reality, equality, and social justice on one hand, and democracy and security in the West, Centre, and East of an Europe with a universal vocation for values and morality.