Why democracy
Caroline de Gruyter
We Europeans used to shoot at each other with ammunition, and now we all go to Brussels and shoot at each other with words...

Although I grew up in a country in which Europe is often just portrayed as ‘a market’, to me its main meaning continues to be that of a peace project.

We Europeans used to shoot at each other with ammunition, and now we all go to Brussels and shoot at each other with words. It isn’t always pretty, but looking back at our turbulent and bloody history I think this is utter progress. We should be proud of that and handle it with care, so the next generations will be able to enjoy it, too.