Mircea Cartarescu - interview
On Cafebabel there is a short interview by Natalia Sosin (Poland) taken to the Romanian writer Mircea Cartarescu.
Besides the discussion regarding his biography and books, Cartarescu also expresses his opinion related to European Union:
‘the French can afford to be eurosceptic, but we cannot. We face the following choice: to be in Europe or to be nobody. This is why I think that Europe has the potential to become a supernation. We cannot say that we are Romanians with pride if we refuse to say that we are Europeans at the same time. Joining the EU means an increase in self-respect. I really wanted it, and was really happy when it came true.’
I agree with the fact that we should proudly call ourselves ‘Europeans’ before asking others to do so, but I have some doubts when he says that the Europe has the potential to become a supernation, not because I’m an Eurosceptic (I’m not) but I think that cultural integration did not keep the same pace with the economic or political one.
I don’t see the French, British, German, Polish…even Romanian people ready to say that we are one (super)nation. Not now and not soon. On contrary, if EU Institutions will try to speed up things (see Constitution Treaty) they will receive the opposite reaction. Besides, nations already in place are discussing disintegration (Belgium and others).
Posted in Miscellaneous
September 24th, 2007 at 7:27 pm
I think he meant super-state, which makes more sense.
September 25th, 2007 at 9:53 am
Hello, natka, and welcome.
Could be, after all, English is not Mr. Cartarescu’s native language. But still, even there is a ‘potential’ for a super-state, for most Europeans it is to soon to talk about this. And we cannot ignore that there is also a ‘potential’ of breaking-up (less important, but it’s there). We will know for sure only when EU will face its first real major crisis (it will come, whether we like or not, its a cycle). We’ll see if EU will react as a whole or not. Then we can talk about super-state or super- nation or whatever this union tends to become.
October 29th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
[…] face it: also failed) this is exactly what ‘unified Europe’ needs. As I was telling natka more than a year ago: …even there is a ‘potential’ for a super-state, for most Europeans […]
December 8th, 2008 at 12:34 am
The writer’s point is kind of besides the point: why should it be a decision based on “we can afford” or “we cannot afford?” If he talks about self-respect, then the (elementary) logic should say that the (need for) self-respect determines euro-adherence, and not conversely
December 11th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
Hi, melkquelk. Good point, but the issue is rather complicated and needs a separate discussion. Will be back on the matter in few days with a post.
December 12th, 2009 at 2:42 am
Many of guys write about this topic but you wrote down some true words!!