The scientific circles of the Three Seas universities will adopt the model of methodology for implementing Robert Schuman’s ideas developed by prof. Krijtenburg – informed prof. Zbigniew Krysiak, chairman of the Program Council of the Institute of Schuman’s Thought. Prof. Margiet Krijtenburg from The Hague University of Applied Sciences, together with students, carries out numerous programs aimed at implementing Robert Schuman’s ideas into specific areas of life.
“The EU has a vision, but the problem is that this vision has been forgotten, lost along the way” – prof. Margiet Krijtenburg said. “In Central and Eastern Europe we see this spiritual force, while Western Europe is very pragmatic, too pragmatic, and I think we could learn a lot as Western Europeans in this matter” – she admitted.
She pointed out that Robert Schuman thought of the European community as a community of equal partners, even if in the past they were arch-enemies, and then transferred it to the supranational level. “It was like removing the stinger from the bite” – she said, adding that in this way any problem in the international arena could be solved. “We should analyze all problems with this hierarchy, with this value” – she emphasized.
“What is important to me in Schuman’s thought is an appreciative dialogue. It is a dialogue in which I really try to fully understand, empathize with the other side, exchange, establish a two-way flow of feelings. Of course, if any differences arise in the meantime, they will not be an obstacle, but enrichment our relationship” – she explained. In her opinion, “on the basis of this relationship we can build an increasingly stronger Europe, on the basis of Judeo-Christian civilization, Roman law and Greek philosophy”. “These are the roots that should permeate everything we do” – she emphasized.
“Every tree has roots. If you cut the roots, every tree will fall dead sooner or later, so by trying to live in accordance with our values, without breaking away from the roots, it is not we as a society, but we personally will help to build this more prosperous future” – prof. Krijtenburg noted. “A value such as human dignity should be at the center of both politics and economics. Sometimes we forget what economics should be. Economics is there to serve people, not itself” – she recalled, pointing out that “the common market is only a mean to reach the goal, not the goal itself”.
“Currently, economics determines what decisions politicians should make, and politicians simply adopt the guidelines that economics dictates to them, so we all serve something. Whether leaders or governments exist to serve society” – she persuaded.
“Solidarity, subsidiarity will allow us to overcome all problems, all conflicts. Let us remember that mutual relations and conversation are the basic step to overcome all difficulties. True listening requires a huge effort. Truly understanding the other side requires a huge effort. In this way we can implement really powerful projects” – she concluded.
Prof. Zbigniew Krysiak, chairman of the Program Council of the Institute of Schuman’s Thought (IMS), announced that IMS will strive to implement the methodology of implications of Robert Schuman’s thought developed by prof. Krijtenburg to Poland.
“Professor Krijtenburg and her students carry out various types of projects concerning economic, technical, social and organizational matters. There, the students’ task is to apply Robert Schuman’s ideas in the model of a given project and to demonstrate how such a project has better and greater values and properties than if it omitted the values represented by Schuman: unity, solidarity and peace. The Institute of Schuman’s Thought will want, by creating a network of student Schuman research circles at universities in Poland and Intermarium, to involve students in this method of project implementation and cooperation between these centers in the support of a mentor like Prof. Margiet Krijtenburg” – prof. Krysiak informed.
When asked whether these projects would be implemented or whether they would remain only in the scientific sphere, prof. Krysiak explained: “The essence of these projects, as Schuman did, is their practical application”. “Schuman avoided implementing projects that would not be reflected in social and economic life. The stage preceding the implementation of these projects will be the analysis of gaps and needs in various dimensions of social and economic life and identifying the reasons why such projects were not implemented. We implicitly assume that many projects are implemented without the foundation of a specific value system – they only have an economic motive, which is insufficient in various social areas, because projects that are implemented only on the basis of their economic efficiency are not always right, because there are many elements in society or culture, which do not directly generate money, but create value in the form of, for example, better education, better mental and spiritual condition, and these are difficult to measure things, but they are often of greater value than earning a certain amount of money on a given project” – he clarified.
The Schuman Trimarium Forum was organized by the Institute of Schuman’s Thought with the participation of substantive and strategic partners, including the Podkarpackie Voivodeship Marshal’s Office and the Industrial Development Agency. About 150 young people from 10 countries took part in the event, which took place from September 18-22, 2023 in Krasiczyn. They had the opportunity to benefit from the experience of people who are authorities in their fields and integrate with each other. The forum was accompanied by cultural events, including dance games and national dance courses. The event was held under the patronage of the Speaker of the Sejm, Elżbieta Witek.
Anna Wiejak