The State of the European Union. The European Parliament faces its most important elections yet

THE STATE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION 44 and a new social contract has to start from the acceptance and development of this idea. Accountability means being answerable to pre- sent and future generations. The social-demo- cratic model is still relevant because we know that the market alone cannot satisfy human needs. We should look to the trail blazed by for- mer Portuguese president Mário Soares, who consolidated Portuguese democracy without ossifying it by blending individual freedom, soli- darity, market regulation, the control of eco- nomic power through democratic political pow- er and the position of the State as a catalyst for social initiatives, social cohesion, sustainability, pluralism, secularity and the defence of the common good. Development and personal and social emancipation Portuguese development depends on internal and external factors. Although integration in Europe is essential, we should also remember that the two Iberian states, Portugal and Spain, are central to the continuation and relevance of the EU and the Atlantic region through their links to the wider world. Yet while Europe is of course important, we must consider a question of variable geometry: how can we reap the ben- efits of our continental location and seafaring possibilities without smart joint ventures in the Atlantic, the Far East, Africa, the Americas and Northern Europe? We have to build on the work done towards European integration and the sin- gle currency and consolidate our position by strengthening our mediating institutions and ensuring that they truly represent citizens, boosting education, science and culture, sharp- ening our focus on wealth (not just its move- ment) and increasing and improving investment. Equal freedom and free equality should there- fore beget a mature democracy and inclusive citizenship, tackle exclusion and counter unjust inequalities. By doing away with the idea of the productive, dirigiste state and mercantile utili- tarianism, we can instead move towards per- sonal and social emancipation.