Lübeck – ESI on defending Europe’s miraculous progress

2 June 2026
Lübeck. Photo: ESI
Lübeck. Photo: ESI

ESI’s Gerald Knaus gave a presentation on the future of Europe to the board of the Martens & Prahl Versicherungskontor at the Lübeck Media Docks in Lübeck, Germany.

Gerald reflected on the extraordinary transformation Europe has undergone over the past century. He noted that northern Germany itself offers a powerful example of this change. For generations, conflicts between Germany and Denmark over Schleswig-Holstein shaped politics and fuelled tensions in the region. Today, however, the two countries are among Europe’s closest partners, demonstrating how integration and cooperation can overcome even long-standing historical rivalries.

At the same time, Gerald warned that peace and stability cannot be taken for granted. Russia’s war against Ukraine and the growing influence of nationalist movements across Europe show that the forces that once divided the continent have not disappeared. He argued that authoritarian and nationalist actors seek to weaken European unity and exploit instability, including the political tensions created by large-scale migration and war.

Gerald concluded that Europe’s response must be to strengthen cooperation rather than retreat from it. The peace, prosperity, and freedom Europeans enjoy today are the result of decades of integration based on democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. Preserving these achievements, he argued, requires renewed commitment to European unity and closer cooperation in the face of common challenges.