The Brief — European politics needs to become more based

Given the rise of illiberal parties across Europe, our democracy may well depend on politicians like Estonia’s Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, who has taken to youngster parlance in an effort to recognise their contributions to our societies.

Many eyes are on the NATO summit in Vilnius this week. Less well known is another meeting, happening on the sidelines – that of an internet-based anti-disinformation force that calls themselves the NATO fellas, or NAFO in short. NAFO drew the attention of Kallas, who posted a widely-shared social media clip.

Addressing the summit in a video, Kallas wished the fellas “the most based NAFO summit possible”. Based on what? What does that even mean?

Many readers are unlikely to be familiar with the term “based”. It is commonly used by the young to express agreement or show praise for someone. Other times, “based” is used to show respect for someone’s courage to express a position one does not necessarily share.

The EU needs more of Kallas’ kind of chutzpah. Politicians need to be more based – both on facts and in sticking to their own values – but also willing to adopt the ever-changing, always creative lingo of the young.

A unique model of intergovernmental cooperation, with its many flaws, the EU appears to be heading down a dark path: Those who would see the European project laid at their feet are gaining popularity – fascistoid and illiberal politics are on the rise.

Kallas, on the other hand, is a shining example of the other kind of politics on offer. The liberal Estonian is a firmly committed Atlanticist who won her last election in a landslide and is one of Ukraine’s firmest allies.

The 46-year-old has added to the European halo in the world, appearing to speak on behalf of the bloc in countries like Japan and the US.

Other politicians should follow suit because while populism and illiberal policies are taking hold, turnout rates amongst young voters continue to flounder.

More “based” politicians may help to address this. For one, recognising the young by adopting parts of their lingo may endear high politics to this increasingly disenfranchised segment of Europeans.

Because why would younger voters care about stuffy old politicians who flaunt their drawn-out arguments on TV talk shows?

The young consume short-form media, where much like on Twitter, every single word matters. Content producers and their output are either based, or they are not. Turnout figures reflect the lack of identification with politics among the young.

Europe hailed a turnout rate of 42% among the under-25-year-olds in the 2019 European Parliamentary elections as a grand success. Galvanised by Brexit, the single largest blow to the bloc in its recent history, European youth did turn out, but was such a pithy number really all the young could muster?

Think of Germany, the world’s fourth-largest economy, where the far-right AfD is polling solidly above 20%. The party wants to abolish the EU and return to a format akin to the European Economic Area – with even fewer rules and less oversight.

Much of the AfD’s success comes from its dominance of “traditional” social media.

The far-right can boast the most party followers on Facebook, about half a million people. On YouTube, the video-sharing platform, about 300,000 subscribe to the AfD – and another 150,000 to their leader, Alice Weidel. On TikTok, where the young get their short-form media fix, AfD and Weidel fan accounts abound.

Yet, young voters are a crucial bulwark against the party, because few young voters opt for the far-right in Germany. In 2021, a mere 8% of young German voters put in their lot with the party, which performed far better with the middle-aged.

This bulwark must hold. And embracing the ever-changing lingo of the young could aid in recognising both their importance to society and in showing them that their way of life is valued.

Secondly, the European project is contingent upon those who are ready to fight for their ideals.

Jean Monnet, sword in hand, created the foundation. His successors must stick to their ideals or condemn Europe to the annals of history. Lest we forget, the based stick to their values no matter the opposition.

The Estonian prime minister is based – both in her adherence to European values and her willingness to embrace the lingo of the young. Other European politicians should take note.

“Democracies need to take steps to defend themselves,” she told the online group. Word.

The Roundup

The POTENTIAL consortium headed by France and Germany has begun work on a large-scale pilot project to create a European Digital Identity wallet, with deployment excepted by 2025, it was announced at the launch event in Paris on Monday (10 July).

EU countries seem to have accepted the regulation format for the telecom legislation on the condition that it respects minimum harmonisation, according to a first iteration of the text seen by EURACTIV.

The first less controversial parts of the EU’s landmark AI law have already been cleared at the technical level, whilst the provisions to promote innovation and the obligation for a fundamental rights impact assessment might follow suit.

Amazon has initiated proceedings to contest the European Commission’s decision to designate it as a very large online platform under the Digital Services Act, a category that entails a strict regulatory regime.

NATO is stepping up cooperation with four key Asia-Pacific countries, though divisions remain over what shape the alliance’s outreach to the region will take.

Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne has sketched a timetable to ban the sale of new gas boilers in France but decision-makers are treading carefully as some fear the government may face similar difficulties as Germany with its own phase-out plan.

As the European Parliament gears up to vote on the final COVI subcommittee report on the lessons learned throughout the pandemic, Dolors Montserrat, rapporteur of the file, told EURACTIV that MEPs struck a successful balance in the recommendations proposed.

Don’t miss this week’s Transport Brief: EU opts to compete with China on battery quality rather than cost.

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