Losing the EU one “e” at a Time:

“Madame, you will not be able to board the flight, your COVID test is in German,” the Swiss airline employee told my daughter at the gate in Zurich airport, as she prepared to fly home to London.

“Excuse me? It says “Negativ,” just add the “e” and you’ll turn it into English.”

“No, Madame, we’re sorry. Please step aside, we will proceed to unload your luggage.”

In pre-COVID times Europe had no internal borders, at least for a short period of history. Those lucky enough to have a European passport or a valid permit moved freely through the Schengen space, enjoying the cultural diversity that the old continent offers. It was a hard-won triumph; Europe hasn’t always welcomed its own neighbours.

The pandemic reinstituted national borders within Europe. Again we live in nation states. For good or bad. The founders of the European Union foresaw the possibility of reinstalling national boundaries, in case of need. It’s in the treaties. And, yes, the pandemic justifies returning border control to the nation states.

But this re-nationalisation of Europe in times of pandemic has brought about a resurgence of rules, regulations, and laws, and a multitude of regulators: national, federal, corporate, cantonal, each with different grades of legitimacy and accountability. Many citizens too have become…