What do you like about Europe?
The start itself : About 3,000 years ago, a beautiful Phoenician princess named Europe lived with her parents in a large palace. She loved walking in the woods and watching the animals. When the god father Zeus learned of their beauty, he wanted to get to know her as soon as possible.

Zeus had an idea: he knew that Europe loved the animals. To please her, he wanted to transform himself into an animal. He thought that if he turned into a magnificent white bull, then he could win over Europe. When Europe saw this most beautiful bull far and wide she naturally became aware of him. She admired the white bull and approached him with confidence. The white bull lay motionless, waiting for Europe to get closer. As Europe sat on its back, the bull – who was actually Zeus – leapt to his feet and raced away with the bewildered Europa on his back. Europe screamed desperately for help and did not understand why she had been kidnapped by this bull. But soon she calmed down again. She grabbed him by the horns and was no longer afraid of him.

The next day they reached a beach that belonged to today’s island of Crete. The bull showed her the place where he would live with Europe in the future and decided to become human again. When Europe saw Zeus, she instantly fell in love with him. They got three sons: Minos, Rhadamanthys and Sarpedon. The continent on which they lived was later named after the Princess Europa.

Somehow Europe is still surrounded by bulls.

What did your country gave to Europe (music, literature, theatre, politics…)?
As a European I admire all those who contributed to our culture and there are so many women and men in each country. Europe cannot be thought without any of our Regions and the people that live and lived within.

What did Europe gave to your country (generals, kings & queens, artists, concepts)?
Clean up your country and region by everything that is not created there and it will be barbarian. So it is everything each of our countries got from Europe and each other.

In result of your time at JCI: What did you love about JCI?
The creed. It really unites us on our diversity as everyone is wearing it in our hearts.
The diversity. There is no other place on the globe you can learn so much and so openly from each other. The passion. No other place is so full of passion to better the society in a global scale.

What do you love about the Senate?
Every new Senator. And the talks we have cross generational.

What is your vision for Europe in 2044, the 75th anniversary of the European Senate?
I will be 81 then and I have three mayor scenarios for Europe.
The worst is the destroyed Europe. We didn’t avoid another war and we restarted again although we still saw everyday bombs showing up that had been thrown 80 years ago. But we didn’t learn our lesson of the 20st century.
The pessimistic. A disputed Europe. We became a colony of the big two: China and the US as we can’t unite.
The best is the free digital Europe. We created an open society in all our diversity that still distinguishes from China and the US by being a humanistic, open, conscious, divers and free Europe without borders within Europe.

What is the action you take to make that vision happen?
I stay engaged in Europe and in the world in roles outside JCI. Fading out of official roles in JCI I like to contribute further in three ways: mentoring new members and generally the next generations, leading other organizations by example and being with this a rolemodel, and upholding the Creed and values of JCI.  Thus, I will continue asking questions as a Professor related to my fields and the future, continue writing books and giving speeches, contributing to the world as an entrepreneur, and remain a global citizen. I will measure my life by the poem I got from our JCI Trainer Teresa from Malaysia in the Prime Training in Manila 1998: It is called “Today”:

This is the beginning of new day.
God has given this day to use it as I will
I can waste it or grow in its light and be of Service to others

But what I do with this day is important because I have exchanged a day of my life for it
When tomorrow comes today will be gone forever
I hope I will not regret the price I paid for it.
Teresa probably don’t know how deeply she inspired me and thus I encourage you to go on and inspire. The seeds will grow.