1 Welkom Young European Talents op 13 november 2018 in Gouvernement aan de Maas in Maastricht

Transcription

1 1 Welkom Young European Talents op 13 november 2018 in Gouvernement aan de Maas in Maastricht Ladies and gentlemen, Welcome to the House of the Province of Limburg. Welcome to the house where Europe was born. Where in 1992 in the middle of this chamber the Maastricht Treaty was signed. The Treaty that enabled you who are now Young European Talents to grow up in a borderless Europe. A borderless Europe in which you have always been free to move. To travel, to study, to work, to play sports and to do business. With a bit of goodwill, you could also have called me back in 1992 a Young European Talent. Although I am not claiming that my talent was equal to yours, Young and European I was for sure. Young because I was in my early thirties and just starting to earn my spurs. First in the youth section of a political party and then in the academic world; and European, because I was born here in Maastricht. And born here in Maastricht, it is almost impossible not to grow up as a European, like many others living in the province of Limburg. Because like them, I had a grandma who was born on the other side of the border; And like them, I watched more German and Belgian than Dutch TV because here, the reception was so much better; And like them, I tended to visit the Belgian rather than the Dutch coast Ladies and gentlemen, you will experience it for yourselves. Three days in Maastricht means three days of being inspired by the European spirit. A city founded by the Romans; Which was also in Spanish and French hands on numerous occasions Sun King Louis the Fourteenth even lost his beloved musketeer d Artagnan when he conquered the city;

2 2 and if you are looking for a café, you can find café Charlemagne on one of our centuries-old squares. A café that prides itself on the fact that even the Father of Europe used to drink a pint at a tavern on that site. That may be true, because Maastricht is in the middle of the former heartland of Charlemagne. The former heartland that extends across German, Limburg and Belgian territory. Being here for 3 days, ladies and gentlemen, you will find that we are not a typical Dutch province. You may certainly notice, that we here in Limburg: have a different landscape, with rolling hills instead of straight-lined polders; and have a different sound, with our own more melodious dialect; and even have a different smell, if you compare the odour of our cheese with that of the Dutch Gouda. But it is mainly our location that makes us so unique within our own country A location that is almost outside our own country. Warmly enclosed by two foreign neighbours, with whom we share so much more history and culture than with our own countrymen So as a result, our nature can best be described as a mix of German Gründlichkeit, Latin dolce vita and Dutch pragmatism A nature that also means that we are eager to cross the borders, which are never far away here. To visit friends and family on the other side, to linger, to live, to work And means that we saw many opportunities in that borderless united Europe outlined in the Maastricht Treaty. Including the European Union, the single currency and EU citizenship Needless to say, ladies and gentlemen, we commemorated or better said celebrated the twentyfifth anniversary of the signing of that treaty last year. Even though Europe had not yet become what many had hoped. And one of the twelve founders even decided to head for the exit

3 3 For these reasons in particular, we as real fans wanted to offer that Europe a helping hand. And so we organised more than 140 events under the title Europe Calling. More than 140 events in which many not just politicians, but also researchers, business people and citizens both young and old but many debated about a better Europe. A better Europe in which everyone can feel involved, secure and heard. A debate that we certainly now that we have acquired a taste for it are very keen to keep alive. Particularly as we have received the European Heritage Label this year. The Label that now hangs next to our entrance, on which is written Europe starts here. Our ambition, ladies and gentlemen, is to give Maastricht a permanent place on the map as the city for debate about the future of Europe Or should I say the new Europe, which belongs more to Europeans the citizens than to institutions. We the Province of Limburg, the city and the university of Maastricht are keen to take the lead with a follow-up programme entitled Maastricht, Working on Europe. And we are inviting everyone to join in to join an ongoing debate in which we particularly wish to involve sceptics and young people Sceptics who beyond their no may well have very good ideas about a different and perhaps better Europe and young people because their starting point the borderless Europe in which they have grown up may be very different to that of older generations That is at least what we learnt from the Brexit referendum in which the never again war generation voted to leave, in contrast to the young generation who do not wish to be restricted in their freedom of movement Ladies and gentlemen, I walk past the Maastricht Treaty every day, and every day I am inspired by it. Not only because it gave rise to the European Union and the euro, but also because for the first time it gave the regions a role and introduced European citizenship.

4 4 In my opinion, these are two golden keys for unlocking the future of Europe The regions and cities because they are capable of building Europe from the bottom up. Particularly because they consist of communities of a size that citizens can deal with and with which they can identify. By working together, such strong local and regional communities can build not only nation states, but also Europe. And the EU citizens because they are the ones who will finally build the real bridges across borders. Just like the citizens in this region would really like to do, in defiance off all nationalistic trends. Ladies and gentlemen, it is for that reason too that I, as a Young European Talent of the past, am exceptionally pleased to welcome you, the Young European Talents of the present. Here in the birthplace of the European Union. Where the Maastricht Treaty is waiting to inspire you too. To inspire you to connect with one another. Across all kinds of borders. To enable you to seize your share in the Europe of the future. And that in an era: in which division reigns. Just take the United Kingdom and the United States of America, which are united only in name; in which real and fake news stories are competing for attention; and in which the government according to a futurologist I heard last week must concede power in order to remain credible Just to mention three challenges. Anyway, I am assuming that the desire to be challenged is part of your nature as a talent. Ladies and gentlemen,

5 5 As I said, Europe starts here is written next to our entrance. Let me end with the words: a new Europe starts here with Young European Talents like you. I wish you all three pleasant days in Maastricht. Learn from the speakers, learn from your visits and learn from one another. Without any limits, like the Europe intended in the Maastricht Treaty.