Theresa VOLPP, Germany

Untitled (Europe), 2025,

140 x 100cm, Acrylic on canvas

Europe, as a Safety Net Europe, is in one of its very basic purposes an economic alliance and therefore, a guarantor of peace on the European continent. The economic dependence on other member states and the profits that come with it make it pointless to start any form of war inside the European Union. It may sound unemotional but, being German, I believe we still carry an immense responsibility to avoid any kind of act which could lead to another war. Therefore, for me personally, the alliance of the European Union always felt very much like a safety net – not only against war, but also against any outside pressure that might threaten European values, the freedom we possess as a society and which we fought for and gained over the past decades. Even though the construct of Europe is not perfect and needs constant change and improvement, I always felt privileged to be European. For me, it comes with a great amount of freedom, and with responsibilities.