Solidarity first – Articles

European Values

Carl Christian Kalmann

The big question is, what makes Europe an actual Europe and who are europeans. It is not anymore about geographical location, history, language nor religion. It is more about the values of Europe that Europe has decided to carry.

The values of Europe are the following:

Human dignity

Human dignity is inviolable. Which means that it must be respected, protected and constitutes the real basis of fundamental rights.

Freedom

Without freedom we could not have our own thoughts and opinions about different topics and we would not have freedom of speech, which is necessary for us to speak freely and share our ideas without having any fear. Individual freedoms such as respect for private life, freedom of thought, religion, assembly, expression and information are protected by the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.

Democracy

The EU functions on democracy and that means that really in charge of all the actions, that Europe makes, lies in the hands of the masses( European civilians). Every adult EU citizen has the right to stand as a candidate and to vote in elections to the European Parliament and also vote in their country of origin.

Equality

Equality is about equal rights for all citizens before the law. The principle of equality between women and men underpins all European policies and is the basis for European integration. Although there are still some inequalities in Europe that governments are working on.

Human rights

Human right are protected by the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. This means that European countries are wrong for discriminating someone on the basis of sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation, the right to the protection of your personal data, and or the right to get access of justice. 

The rule of laws

Rule of laws means essentially, that every european citizen has to obey to  the same laws and rules that Europe has decided.

So at the end of the day being an european is not about having the same history or being located in Europe geographically, but whether you have the same values, understand and value them.