Refusing to choose between the establishment and nationalism

The year 2016 has made clear that now, more than ever, is the right time for citizens to reclaim  the future of Europe.

The year 2016 has made clear that now, more than ever, is the right time for citizens to reclaim  the future of Europe. The far-right movements across Europe and beyond  are channeling the fear, anger and despair against the most vulnerable, the refugees, the migrants and the unemployed. This is not our vision of Europe. The Eurosceptics are seeking for more influence in the European Union in the year of Brexit, Trump and populism; in the year in which referendums in the United Kingdom, Italy and the Netherlands, were clear signs of  rejection to the establishment.

At European Alternatives we refuse to choose between the establishment and nationalism: we believe there are alternative ways to construct a different narrative for our continent.

At European Alternatives we refuse to choose between the establishment and nationalism: we believe there are alternative ways to construct a different narrative for our continent. The status-quo will not be reversed until citizens feel empowered to be the owners of their destiny with the strength enough to imagine, demand and enact the Europe they want and not the one that is being imposed.

Back in 2007, we started defending  the need for a structural counter proposal to the establishment and a reinvention of the European democracy.  This proposal can only come out of alliances and synergies from social movements, civil society organisations,  trade unions, activists, artists, citizens and political representatives from the local to the transnational level. After one decade of existence, our position remains  unchanged: only re-imagining, redefining and re-telling the meaning of Europe, and who are its people, can shift the feeling of disengagement and distrust, dangerously prevalent among young generations.

In our effort to bring Europe closer to the citizens, we have worked in 2016 mobilising our members, partners and citizens  via debates, open events, international seminars, online and offline articles, video productions, social media campaigns, and more, aiming to reverse the European apathy and fight nationalism.

In this report, you can find out more about the projects, publications, events and campaigns we have led together with our partners and networks in 2016. You can also read about what objectives we set for the coming year and ways to engage with us.