Thread by @tepsaeu

We're about to GO LIVE and ask: does #solidarity in 🇪🇺 really exist?

We're joining @IIR_Prague to debate with Petr Kratochvíl, @MichaelKaeding, @CatSorensen, and @SenemAydnDzgit

LIVESTREAM👉 facebook.com/events/3198468…

As always we'll be collecting highlights below ⤵️

/THREAD 🧵

"Solidarity is typically understood as solidarity among EU Member States. This means the concept is filtered through the lens of national politics, which to a large extent defines how #solidarity takes place in the EU"

- Petr Kratochvíl, @IIR_Prague, opens the event

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.@CatSorensen from @thinkeuropa has extensive experience in EU affairs from the Danish perspective and authored the relevant chapter in "European Solidarity in Action and the Future of Europe: Views from the Capitals"

/3

.@SenemAydnDzgit is a widely-published scholar from @sabanciu and TEPSA's Associate Member @ipc_ipm. She co-authored the chapter on Turkey of "European Solidarity in Action and the Future of Europe: Views from the Capitals" along with Ozgehan Senyuva

/4

.@MichaelKaeding is co-editor of "European Solidarity in Action and the Future of Europe: Views from the Capitals" along with @JohannesPollak and @_PaulSchmidt

He also spoke about the book in the latest episode of #EuropeChats 👉

/5

"Denmark is a very vocal member of the 'frugal' alliance of net-contributor countries, Denmark is a country with many opt-outs from the EU. Therefore it is a country where EU #solidarity is not expressed very much"

- @CatSorensen, @thinkeuropa

/6

"Although Denmark is very much at the bottom of the #solidarity scoreboard, the country clearly is top of the class in demonstrating EU values, is quite happy with membership, is a net-contributor, and transposes EU directives into law quickly"

- @CatSorensen, @thinkeuropa

/7

"Ultimately, #solidarity is not a part of what the Danish government thinks the European project should be about"

- @CatSorensen, @thinkeuropa

/8

"The Danes are the population the most concerned with the more supranational and federal elements of the EU. It's the political nature of the EU that Denmark, as a state which fears loses sovereignty has a fear of"

- @CatSorensen, @thinkeuropa

/9

How is #solidarity perceived in the EU-Turkey relationship? @SenemAydnDzgit from @ipc_ipm has joined this event to talk about the LACK of solidarity that both sides perceive in one another

/10

"We did have a de-escalation regarding the conflict in the Eastern Mediterranean in the summer, but this tension looms on the horizon still. In this context of geopolitical anxiety, there is very little scope for EU-Turkey #Solidarity"

- @SenemAydnDzgit, @ipc_ipm

/11

"There has been a very brief instance of #Solidarity between the EU and Turkey in the early days of #COVID19: Turkey was sending masks, test kits, sanitary equipment, and more as part of strategic aid diplomacy"

- @SenemAydnDzgit, @ipc_ipm

/12

"Geopolitical rivalries reflect public opinion, with a rise of anti-Western discourse in Turkey. BUT there is still ground for local-level acts of #solidarity between Turkish and European citizens"

- @SenemAydnDzgit, @ipc_ipm

/13

"In order to make the European project a success in the long run, we need this kind of pan-European understanding of various EU issues"

- @MichaelKaeding begins his intervention by laying out the rationale behind "European Solidarity in Action and the Future of Europe"

/14

"All of the EU27 have very different reasons for being in the European Union. These national narratives differ: if you read the Polish chapter by Zdzislaw Mach (@JagiellonskiUni), you find out Poland EXPECTS solidarity, full stop!"

- @MichaelKaeding, @unidue

/15

"The #solidarity showed to Ireland during #Brexit, even by countries like Hungary and Poland, was incredible! Whenever British politicians tried to visit individual leaders, to 'divide and conquer', everyone pointed them towards the @EU_Commission!"

- @MichaelKaeding

/16

"European #solidarity, in the end, is about understanding each other. Understand Finnish interests as opposed to German interests, and more!"

- @MichaelKaeding, co-editor: "European Solidarity in Action and the Future of Europe: Views from the Capitals"

/17

How can we remedy the situation of European #solidarity? "Solidarity requires a form of common European identity. Let's meet, talk, listen, and show interest to one another"

- @MichaelKaeding, co-editor: "European Solidarity in Action and the Future of Europe"

/18

How can we remedy the situation of European #solidarity? "Let's engage the youth in #Turkey, and think of it in a long-term perspective: many of these challenges concern not just the EU27 but also neighbouring countries"

- @SenemAydnDzgit, @ipc_ipm

/19

How can we remedy the situation of European #solidarity? "Let's start with lower, less controversial issues: we are all human and we don't necessarily need this common identity to have human-to-human solidarity"

- @CatSorensen, @thinkeuropa

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On that note Petr Kratochvíl from @IIR_Prague closes the event - thanks to our speakers @CatSorensen, @SenemAydnDzgit, and @MichaelKaeding!

Be sure to stay tuned for more on "European Solidarity in Action and the Future of Europe: Views from the Capitals"

/ENDS

@threadreaderapp please unroll