Crossing borders is sometimes a most difficult job. Which border would you abolish immediately?

Dr. Maria Hohn-Berghorn: The 20th century has become the "Century of Borders": The falldown of the various Empires, the dissolution of the former UdSSR and Jugoslavia, the manifold territorial rearrangements in Africa and the Middle East have faced us with a large number of new states. The formation of the EU has lowered borders physically, yet we feel their psychological continuation. There is still a marked consciousness for "ours" and "yours". These "mental" borders have to be taken serious, as they are closely linked to language, cultural and national identity (e.g. Brexit). You can only compensate these national minds by creating a new European mind!

Creating the future needs priorities: What is the most important task the EU is facing in the next years?

Dr. Maria Hohn-Berghorn: The EU must create a European identity among member states and their
citizens. This requires much more transparency as far as European administrations, institutions and procedures are concerned. But above all there must be a more intensive contact with the elected members of the European Parliament, whose rights have to be enforced. China, the USA and the Russian Federation are units, which speak with one voice, whereas the EU comprising 28/27 states will still have to develop into such a unit. Issues of global outreach, such as energy, climate, migration or security, need a coherent European answer and an active cooperation in finding solutions.