Choose between freedom and land

"The despot always seeks the means to destroy institutions, for which it is enough to submit them to his will". This is one of the many reflections left to us by one of the most European Spaniards, Salvador de Madariaga, whom the Association of European Journalists honours every year by awarding prizes to those who, in the opinion of a highly prestigious jury, have most distinguished themselves by disseminating and defending the values that make the European Union the beacon that still guides those who aspire to live in freedom, democracy and security.  

For the first time in the twenty-eight editions of these European Journalism Awards, I have had the opportunity to experience another year of this day of remembrance, recognition and reflection held in Alicante. It is a radically different moment, since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which has brought war to the EU's doorstep, once again highlights some fundamental issues.  

The first of these is the ease with which democracy can be weakened if it is not defended every day. One need only look at the examples of democratic governments giving way to autocratic governments without much hindrance, and without the public noticing until it is too late.  

As was highlighted in the exchanges of reflections, we live in a time in which democratic regimes are suffering, under attack by enemies such as populism and its disinformation campaigns, and in which even in an apparently consolidated democracy such as the United States, we witness with astonishment the storming of its Parliament or the rejection of the electoral result by a significant percentage of the population.  

The second fundamental conclusion that was recalled on this day is that in this 21st century the only effective recipe for maintaining peace and democracy in the so-called Old Continent is to consolidate the EU. A truly strong union, capable of protecting its citizens against unprecedented dangers: wars, pandemics, economic crises or human catastrophes. And, at the same time, capable of reinventing itself as many times as necessary, repeatedly refuting the doomsayers who increasingly frequently certify its collapse, if not its disappearance. 

In today's world, the European Union has an obligation to make the defence of democracy one of its main objectives, outside of course, but also within its borders. The Europe and democracy binomial is becoming increasingly evident in contrast to the examples of autocratic drift. It only takes a cursory examination to see that the most pro-European societies are more democratic, and conversely, those who want to curtail rights and freedoms are the first to attack the European project.  

If free, strong and independent media are among the fundamental pillars of democracy, it is clear that without them a democracy is neither full nor consolidated. Europe is no exception to this misfortune, so that attacks on freedom of expression and freedom of information continue to take place in our area too, in some cases even leading to murder.  

In this regard, Jaume Duch, Director General for Communication of the European Parliament, recalled an emphatic statement by the current President of the institution, Roberta Metsola: "Journalists should never have to choose between revealing the truth or living. Nor should they have to suffer the condemnation of spending years forced to defend themselves against vexatious court convictions and invest much or all of their savings in doing so".  

For those in Europe who take it for granted that the freedom they enjoy is so natural that there is no need to fight and defend it, it is worth recalling another reflection, in this case by Russia's Dmitry Muratov, winner of the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize and, of course, Putin's enemy: "The world has ceased to love democracy. It is disappointed with the ruling elites and is attracted to dictatorship. There is an illusion that progress is achieved through technology and violence, and not by respecting human rights and freedoms. That would in any case be progress without freedom".  

With the open fronts in Ukraine, the millions of people forced to flee their homes, and the risk that the catastrophe unleashed by Vladimir Putin will spread even further, the Alicante conference once again evoked Madariaga: "Those of us who once chose freedom by losing the land and those who chose the land by losing freedom, have come together to look out for the path that will lead us together to the land and to freedom". There is still a long way to go, many battles to fight and many dialectical, political and social struggles to make this dream come true: that no one should have to choose dramatically between land and freedom.