« Antidemocratic and xenophobic forces of Europe have always been attracted by the European unity dream, the mystic of the imperial Rome»
(FB - 1998)
" Being a citizen is a voluntary act "
(FB - 2009)
"Thinking about the future only makes sense if it is aimed at improving one’s thinking about the present and about the trends at work"
(FB - 1998)
"The European project is not a dream, but a hope. It is rooted in rationality, which is not the case with dreams. We Europeans have seen our dreams end in nightmares too often not to be suspicious."
(FB - 2005)
"The strength of a network is judged at the information level of the weakest link, or more precisely the link furthest from the centre of the network."
(FB - 2004)
"Europe's destiny is escaping the two "Greats" and it will come knocking on the door of the Europeans."
(FB - 1989)
"The history of Europe is a bit like a multifaceted diamond. Everyone sees the same diamond... but no one sees exactly the same facets."
(FB - E-storia project, 2004)
"Let us dare the future as the founding fathers of Europe did"
(FB - "From EU to Euroland", 2001)
"The European citizenship can not be decreed. The European citizen can only be born..."
(FB - 1992)
"Every state is a minority in the EU. In any case, let’s not forget that if all our states went into building the EU it is because they all felt too small to face alone both their future and the rest of the world."
(FB - 2003)
"From a single (EU) Currency to a single (EU) Citizenship. The euro is only an instrument."
(FB - 1997)
"An empire is always providing platforms where conflicts and wars prolife­rate... an empire needs enemies, whilst a Community requires partners."
(FB - 1992)
"Europe’s history has taught us that dreams and nightmares are the two faces of the same coin"
(FB - “Europe is Peace” 2006)
"Everybody wants to have a successful enlargement whereas it is a successful enlarged EU which is important."
(FB - 2002)
"It is clear that the existing national political parties can not serve two masters: national and European."
(FB - IDE, 1989)
"It takes teamwork to make Europe move forward."
(FB - 2005)
"There is nothing like one European. The European is a team of Europeans... the only way we can imagine a European, it is a team of people from different countries, not a single man or woman."
(FB - Enschede (NL) 2012)
"On the horizon with a heaven of freedom and a land of responsibility, this is perhaps the soul of Europe."
(FB - 1992)
"The future challenge for the European project is not about Europe anymore, it is about the Europeans."
(FB - 2005)
"The more Brussels speaks English, the less Brussels understands the Europeans"
(FB - 2004)
"Occupy the Future of Europe!"
("What do YOU want as a future for AEGEE?" Franck Biancheri at the 2012 Agora in Enschede)
"To combine new technologies and democratic principles to succeed in the entry of European integration in the 21st century or e-democracy at the service of Euro-democracy"
(FB - EUSV, 2001)
"In the years 00 of the 21st century, democratization can only take place in the perspective of the democratic election of a European executive that remains to be invented."
(FB - EUSV, 2001)
"We must build the European Community, otherwise Europe will soon be culturally Americanised, politically Finlandised and technologically Japanised"
EGEE I, 1984

the European citizenship can not be decreed…la citoyenneté européenne ne se décrète pas…

The European citizen can only be born out of the conjunction of three factors:

  • the will of the national citizens responsible for becoming responsible European citizens (themselves and their own children);
  • the will of institutions and leaders to stimulate the development of a civil society*;
  • their ability to organise themselves so that their wishes become reality; that is to say, to master the development and implementation of new community policies and tools.

Franck Biancheri, in EUROPE: COMMUNUTY OR EMPIRE? Elements of reflection and principles of action for future European citizens: 1992, the Community at a crossroads. (1992, Editions Anticipolis)

[divider]Le citoyen européen ne peut naître que de la conjonction de trois facteurs :

  • la volonté des citoyens nationaux responsables de devenir, eux et leurs enfants, des citoyens européens responsables ;
  • la volonté des institutions et des dirigeants de stimuler le développement d’une société civile* ;
  • la capacité des uns et des autres à pouvoir s’organiser pour que leurs volontés deviennent des réalités, c’est-à-dire maîtriser l’élaboration et la mise en oeuvre de politiques et d’instruments communautaires nouveaux.

Franck Biancheri in EUROPE: COMMUNAUTÉ OU EMPIRE? Éléments de réflexion et principes d’action à l’usage des futurs citoyens européens: 1992, la Communauté à la croisée des chemins. (1992, éditions Anticipolis)

[divider]