Adam Krzeminski on the remnants of a European public sphere

The newspaper prints a speech delivered by Polish journalist Adam Krzeminski last week in Prague on the subject of a European public sphere. "A European public sphere is a reality and at the same time an illusion, if not indeed a philosophical impossibility. It is only with some difficulty that the circuits of national discourse join together to become communicating tubes in a common discourse that is pursued as their own by people from Poland to Portugal, and from Cyprus to Lapland. ... And yet, in spite of everything, slivers of a European public sphere are part of our daily experience... Europe has taken on the function of a huge corrective, monitoring body - and even an educational institution. It acts as both a litmus test and a catalyst for national debates and domestic disputes. Can we rely on Brussels in the final instance to stop inept autobahn freaks who are prepared to destroy unique ecosystems, or legislators who in their frenzied desire to get even with the communists and with their political opponents undermine human rights?"

» full article (external link, German)
More from the press review on the subject » EU Policy, » Integration, » Europe
All available articles from » Adam Krzeminski

» To the complete press review of Friday, June 22, 2007