Uploaded December 2020 | Updated September 2026, 3 hours ago
The pandemic as an accelerator of capitalist developments and the consequences for European Integration
Ιnputs:
Walter Baier, Member of the Board of transform! europe
Heinz Bierbaum - European Left, President of the Party of the European Left
Catarina Martins, Coordinator of Bloco de Esquerda and MP (Portugal)
Juan Carlos Monedero, President of Instituto25m (Spain)
Anna Mikkola, Vice President of the EL – Vasemmistoliitto (Finland)
George Katrougalos - Γιώργος Κατρούγκαλος@, Professor of Public Law & MP of SYRIZA (Greece)
Maria Karamesini, Professor of Labour Economics and Social Policy
Moderator : Angelina Giannopoulou, Facilitator of transform! europe
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The annual seminar of transform! europe and the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation around strategic questions for the radical left in Europe was held in the context of the European Forum.
The aim of the seminar is to deepen knowledge of the specific obstacles and the difficulties around the transnational organisation and cooperation of the left, and, to improve the capacity of our forces for political action and organisation. The cardinal challenge is how the European left can effectively intervene and promote a policy change considering the social, economic and political consequences of the corona pandemic and the limited capacity, or better willingness, for action of the European Union.
The pandemic crisis accelerated global developments that were already present. These developments are complex and highly contradictory. Key demands of the left, such as the cancellation of the debt, suddenly became possible. The digitalisation of labour, education, cultural expression, and human interaction in general is being pushed forward, creating new forms of subjectification. Moreover, the welfare state was neither strengthened nor upheld. The inadequate health care systems had to make painful decisions to ration care, and the poor continued to be the victims of capitalism’s structural inequality.
European integration is undergoing its most serious crisis, with the EU unable to react and act as a collective subject, instead of solidarity and unity, each country is on its own. This only points up how hegemonic the frugal and austerity-inspired dogma of the EU still is, regardless of its manifest failure. Democracy is no longer a compelling principle in the EU, and welfare states are outloawed by the very Constitution of the EU. What remains of the Union after the crisis?What would be the point at which the left might intervene? Where do we stand vis-à-vis the corona pandemic? Are we better prepared than we were for the 2008 crisis? How can we build common projects at the European level?
The pandemic as an accelerator of capitalist developments and the consequences for European Integration
Ιnputs:
Walter Baier, Member of the Board of transform! europe
Heinz Bierbaum - European Left, President of the Party of the European Left
Catarina Martins, Coordinator of Bloco de Esquerda and MP (Portugal)
Juan Carlos Monedero, President of Instituto25m (Spain)
Anna Mikkola, Vice President of the EL – Vasemmistoliitto (Finland)
George Katrougalos - Γιώργος Κατρούγκαλος@, Professor of Public Law & MP of SYRIZA (Greece)
Maria Karamesini, Professor of Labour Economics and Social Policy
Moderator : Angelina Giannopoulou, Facilitator of transform! europe
*****************
The annual seminar of transform! europe and the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation around strategic questions for the radical left in Europe was held in the context of the European Forum.
The aim of the seminar is to deepen knowledge of the specific obstacles and the difficulties around the transnational organisation and cooperation of the left, and, to improve the capacity of our forces for political action and organisation. The cardinal challenge is how the European left can effectively intervene and promote a policy change considering the social, economic and political consequences of the corona pandemic and the limited capacity, or better willingness, for action of the European Union.
The pandemic crisis accelerated global developments that were already present. These developments are complex and highly contradictory. Key demands of the left, such as the cancellation of the debt, suddenly became possible. The digitalisation of labour, education, cultural expression, and human interaction in general is being pushed forward, creating new forms of subjectification. Moreover, the welfare state was neither strengthened nor upheld. The inadequate health care systems had to make painful decisions to ration care, and the poor continued to be the victims of capitalism’s structural inequality.
European integration is undergoing its most serious crisis, with the EU unable to react and act as a collective subject, instead of solidarity and unity, each country is on its own. This only points up how hegemonic the frugal and austerity-inspired dogma of the EU still is, regardless of its manifest failure. Democracy is no longer a compelling principle in the EU, and welfare states are outloawed by the very Constitution of the EU. What remains of the Union after the crisis?What would be the point at which the left might intervene? Where do we stand vis-à-vis the corona pandemic? Are we better prepared than we were for the 2008 crisis? How can we build common projects at the European level?
