European Voices Rise: University of Murcia Project Challenges Post-Brexit Narratives at European Parliament
Brussels, Belgium – In a powerful counterpoint to the divisive rhetoric that followed Brexit, the University of Murcia’s (UMU) FOM@Play project is set to present its groundbreaking research to the European Parliament. This urgent development, arriving as concerns about European integration persist, offers a vital human perspective on the realities of cross-border living and working within the EU. The project, a deep dive into the experiences of 100 European citizens residing in countries other than their own, aims to dismantle harmful stereotypes and reaffirm the fundamental rights of EU citizens.
From Red Buses to Real Lives: The Genesis of FOM@Play
The seeds of FOM@Play were sown in the aftermath of the 2016 Brexit referendum. Professor Pascual Pérez Paredes, the UMU’s leading applied linguistics expert and the project’s director, witnessed firsthand the “great lie and great manipulation” surrounding the debate. He specifically referenced the infamous campaign promise of redirecting £350 million weekly from the EU to the National Health Service – a symbol, he says, of a deliberate effort to scapegoat European citizens. “We began to see a narrative unfairly blaming EU residents for societal problems,” Pérez Paredes explained in a recent interview. FOM@Play was conceived as a direct response, a mission to amplify authentic voices often drowned out by political spin.
100 Stories, Four Languages: A Multilingual Tapestry of Experience
The heart of FOM@Play lies in its extensive collection of interviews – 100 in total – conducted in French, Italian, English, and Spanish. These aren’t abstract policy discussions; they are intimate portraits of daily life, revealing the challenges and triumphs of individuals navigating new cultures, building careers, and raising families across European borders. The project’s website, fomatplay.eu, hosts a multilingual corpus of these interviews, offering a rich resource for researchers, policymakers, and anyone interested in understanding the human dimension of European mobility. This isn’t just about data; it’s about empathy.
Beyond Integration: The Social and Emotional Impact of Mobility
Initial findings, including a pilot study focusing on Romanian citizens with over two decades of experience in Spain, paint a compelling picture. Many participants described successfully learning Spanish while preserving their native language, overcoming initial hurdles of marginalization, and ultimately achieving a sense of belonging and pride in their families’ accomplishments. But the project goes deeper than simply documenting successful integration. It also reveals a profound concern for democratic values and coexistence, with participants offering critical perspectives on their countries of origin – insights that can be invaluable for host societies. This reciprocal learning process is a key takeaway.
The Power of Visibility: Countering Hate Speech with Human Stories
Professor Pérez Paredes emphasizes the crucial role of visibility. “These are stories that don’t usually appear in the headlines,” he notes, “but they demonstrate the significant contributions of European citizens to our societies and the mutual benefits of cross-cultural exchange.” The project’s presentation to the European Parliament on September 25th in Brussels, alongside a national event at the University of Granada, represents a pivotal moment in bringing these stories to a wider audience and influencing policy discussions. The goal is to move beyond abstract debates and ground policy in the lived realities of EU citizens.
The FOM@Play project isn’t just a response to Brexit; it’s a proactive effort to strengthen the foundations of European cooperation by fostering understanding and challenging prejudice. By giving voice to those often overlooked, it offers a powerful reminder of the shared values and interconnectedness that define the European Union – and a compelling argument for the continued importance of free movement and open borders. Explore the full project findings at fomatplay.eu and join the conversation about building a more inclusive and equitable Europe.
