There are legitimate arguments against the European Union, I know. Its overwhelming bureaucracy drew it away from its original purpose, it is based on complicated rules, even lawyers find it hard to navigate through its legislation, it often behaves like an elitist club, with the refugee crisis leaving values on paper. However, I still believe that united Europe is possible and we need to work for more openness and inclusion, rather than selfishness and isolation. The EU referendum in Great Britain was in no way progressive. It will not change the negative sides of the Union, the opposite - it will reinforce its darkest tendencies.
Brexit campaigners legitimised talking against immigration. It is socially acceptable now to express xenophobic ideas on BBC. For instance, people from the Western Balkans were often presented as a threat, Greece was described as an imposed burden. Brexit campaign relied on selfish, money-related arguments. Boris Johnson kept on claiming he is in favour of immigration – but only if it is "controlled". Controlled immigration would most probably mean only privileged, well-educated people taken to fill in economical gaps dis-balancing societies at home.
Another Brexit argument was targeting refugees and the fear that the EU will force Britain to accept refugee quotas. One could barely hear humane arguments, arguments about values, about Brexit’s possible effects on the rest of Europe, especially on unstable areas like Greece, Kosovo or Bosnia. It was short-sighted and self-obsessed.
In summary, Brexit campaign won with arguments about responsibility shifting, not about responsibility sharing and solidarity. And I am not optimistic about the future neither of the EU, nor of the British society which seems painfully divided today - much more than when the campaign started. If there is any way to save the EU now, I guess it would be quick and painful “divorce” with the UK – re-negotiating trade deals with a very high price and even measures such as introducing visas for British citizens, long and hard procedures like the ones people from Kosovo or Serbia face. If Britain leaves the EU and nothing changes, this would mean the European project is over.
Judging from comments on social media, people from the Balkans are shocked. Not only the immigrants in London but also those who live in Eastern Europe. And I believe this is so, because today sober people on the Balkans lost an argument against nationalists at home. Xenophobia is already celebrated in Great Britain, why would we bother?
Mirela Zarichinova is a freelance journalist and a human rights legal consultant who has lived, worked and studied in Bulgaria, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Kosovo and Italy. She recently finished a Masters degree in Human Rights at the University of Bologna and is currently based in London. Follow her on twitter@MirelaRayuela.
