Shaping Europe with Real Values

On May 25th, The European Conservative had the honour of co-sponsoring an event organised by the Hungarian embassy in Paris, entitled “Hungarian and French Outlook on the Future of Europe.” The panel was moderated by Hélène de Lauzun, columnist for The European Conservative, and featured Balázs Orbán, Hungarian prime minister’s political director, and the distinguished French philosopher, Dr. Rémi Brague. 

The discussion covered a wide array of topics, ranging from questions on the future of the continent, the unique role of Christianity, the threat of declining demographics, and Europe’s day-to-day politics. The timing for this panel was perfect in light of a new development in the EU’s war against conservative member states: Parliament’s recent move to bar Hungary from sitting in the EU’s rotating presidency. This is an addition to the long line of outrages which highlights the EU’s left-wing biases. Orbán noted that this was a serious threat and an attempt to prevent Hungary from “playing a full role in the European Union.” He jokingly quipped that his government should be thankful because this move provides more fuel for Hungary’s argument against the existence of the European Parliament. He believes this episode shows that the EP currently is part of the problem, not the solution, for Europe’s future.

Hélène de Lauzun asked the panelists if there was a third way forward with the EU: Could conservative countries escape the progressivism and exclusion that dominate the EU now, while still maintaining membership in the union? Orbán encouraged people to consider this question in a historical context. The various nations of Europe, including the Hungarians, have been living on the continent for thousands of years. There have been times of unity and of division, times of peace and times of war, but the era that we are living in is unprecedented. European nations have never been part of an integrated political community, based on shared values and common economic interests. However, the EU project is becoming more challenging and difficult to maintain. Nations are struggling to negotiate their unique values and traditions, and as noted earlier, conservatives are being alienated by EU elites. “If we want to preserve it, conservatives need to put more intellectual energy into it,” Orbán argued. Brussels, however, seems more concerned about pushing the European project towards an “ever closer union” by undermining national heritage and sovereignty in favor of progressive and utopian visions of the future.

Following up on this point, Brague said that, as a philosopher, he feels compelled to first ask the question of what it means to be European? What does it mean in terms of common values and a common heritage? Hungary is trying to reinvigorate the original intentions of the EU’s founding fathers: to create a peaceful union of nations centered on a shared cultural heritage. Brague’s concern is that Europeans are not interested in fostering this original aim and may no longer imagine a future in which they are members of a larger community linked by common ideas. However, if there are some common principles that underpin the European project, it will survive. He argued that the most important factor in sustaining the EU is encouraging people to build families. He expressed admiration for Hungary’s pro-family policies because “without subjects to carry it out” there is no European project. 

European Values

In a discussion about European identity, it is impossible to avoid Christianity’s fundamental role—a fact ignored by the mainstream media and many politicians. Orbán acknowledged this when he said that Europeans should unite around Christianity as a shared source of moral understanding, which helps distinguish between right and wrong in political decision-making. This is key in revivifying the European project and countering Brussels’ progressive dogma.

Professor Brague observed that even today many Europeans defend and fight for Christian morality because they see Christianity as a set of values rather than a religion. They are, as the professor noted,  Christianists. They uphold the religion’s moral framework but do not believe in Christ. This paradox leads to a major challenge: Christian values, culture, and civilization cannot be sustained if we are cut off from Christ and tradition as the source.

In light of the unnatural divorce between Christianity and European identity, Brussels’ constant reference to values devoid of meaning and content is an Orwellian exercise in Newspeak. Continuing in the theme of demographics, Brague believes that the most potent weapon to counteract the emptiness and sterility of Brussels’ ‘values’ rhetoric is by upholding the institution of the family. This will lead to a renewal of an authentically Christian European life. To that end, nations should provide the necessary conditions for people to have children. Men and women  need “good reasons to go forward with the human adventure.” Europeans must re-cultivate a worldview in which having children is good because mankind is good. This is a challenging philosophy for many to embrace given the constant demonization of civilization, particularly the West, as a destructive force on the environment and vulnerable groups.

This pessimistic attitude threatens the fabric of European civilization. Hélène de Lauzun noted that some state leaders are beginning to respond to this threat. President Macron himself recently bemoaned the process of de-civilization that is affecting France. Balázs Orbán recognized that while it is important to recognize this crisis in words, action is the only effective response. Once an elected politician understands the challenge, he must act accordingly. To illustrate his point, Orbán noted that the Hungarian government spends 6% of its GDP on family policy, three times the amount of money allocated to its military budget. Even in conservative circles, this is extraordinary. He encouraged the French people to observe Macron’s actions to determine whether his words are empty rhetoric. If Macron fails to follow through, the ballot box should reflect the French people’s disapproval.

However, policy alone cannot solve the problem of shrinking demographics. People must be reminded that life is good and has meaning. Orbán noted that Hungarians as a community have a goal in life: to preserve their heritage and nation. They find their purpose locally, not globally. In his view, dedication to one’s community should be “the European way of life” for all European nations.

The moderator affirmed the importance of fostering love of community in Europe generally. She observed that today having or not having children is reduced to a purely personal choice. The problem with that is that building a family is a social project, not an individual one. Brague developed upon this point by noting that being an individual is just a concept: in reality, there is no such thing as an absolute individual. Every person’s existence is made possible by the relationship of two other human beings. Unfortunately, governments base their policies on the theoretical individual, which is a “totally misguided abstraction.” The professor opined that unless Europeans face this, “we are doomed to fail.”

The panelists touched on a variety of other topics—including Europe’s role in the wider world—but the most important message was that Europe must be renewed through embracing real values. Our Christian heritage is a wellspring of moral guidance that has shaped our civilization and given meaning to Europeans for centuries. In order to counteract the onslaught of poisonous ideologies pushed by EU elites, we must stand up for our heritage, our families, and our future.