Left-wing parties were banned after the 2025 election disaster and democratic, center-right politics now prevail. The economy is booming, taxes have been lowered, those who don't want to work have to see how they can manage themselves, support from the state is only available in the event of incapacity to work through no fault of one's own (illness, etc.). More emphasis was placed on education, infrastructure and digitalization, and the path has proven to be the right one. You can live well on your salary and in principle don't have to do without anything. Refugees were no longer accepted and all unauthorized persons were deported, which has greatly reduced the crime rate. People can move around safely in public again.

Inevitably, the world is going to change, thanks to technological advances. I think, or at least I hope, that we'll be living on a less polluted planet. That humans will have more respect for the environment, that we'll have access to healthcare for everyone. Less delinquency and more respect for the elderly. That everyone can have a minimum of comfort.

There is an artificial protective shell in the atmosphere, high above the earth. This protects living creatures from harmful conditions and keeps the climate at a constant 22 degrees Celsius. Movement is ensured by magnetic levitation trains and vehicles. Cars and motorcycles no longer exist. Everywhere there are vertical gardens that feed people. Farm animals no longer exist either. Most people work in research or in the gardens. All payment transactions are digital. People live in communities that correspond to their interests, i.e. family communities, sports communities, and a lot of value is placed on social interaction. I imagine a peaceful world without wars and without class differences. What counts is us, togetherness and life.

You could really see the changes now, she thought as she walked down the street. After over ten years with self driving EVs and robotaxis, the cities had changed so much. Parking lots, no longer needed, were replaced by parks with trees, flowers, bees and birds. The air was filled with scents, you never could sense before when the air was filled with exhaustion fumes. Even though some fossil fuel vehicles remained, they were not allowed within cities any longer. And the previous traffic noises were replaced by the sound of laughter from children playing, the ripple of water, birds singing and some buskers playing in the distance. Everywhere you could see buildings with solar panels and for the last ten years, all windows worked like solar panels too. Combined with batteries, it provided cities with a stable electricity supply, even when extreme weather hit.

There is no war in Europe. To this end, governments, with the support of the people, have taken the necessary decisions to ensure security and punish aggressors. These decisions have been enforced. On crucial issues for the EU, it is not consensus that is needed, but the support of a majority of member states. The cultures and customs of indigenous peoples are respected. These are legally protected and enforced. Along with security, family and children are recognised as areas of national importance. All national decisions are taken in the light of their impact on security and families, and subsequently on the wider economy and environment. Reducing regulations and state subsidies in the economy. We are moving towards a situation in which regulation must be justified only by exceptional need, and public subsidies are only available in the social sphere (emergency aid, welfare, etc.), education and culture. No tax will be levied on donations and activities that are voluntary. Europe has taken the initiative to develop a new organisation to replace the UN, bringing together the countries of the world and working on a predominantly voluntary basis. This organisation will also have its own enforcement mechanism. The nations of Europe will lead by example, first and foremost through their actions; the time for talk is over.

In 2040, I'd like to see a world where education is truly inclusive and values all pathways, especially vocational education. A system where every student finds his or her place and develops his or her talents, with no hierarchy between streams. Inequalities in access to culture and healthcare would be reduced thanks to ambitious policies. Preventive health care would be a priority, with fair treatment for all. Finally, society would be more ecological, with responsible consumer choices and technological advances serving the common good. A fairer, more united and more respectful world.

I would like the future to be happy and secure, instead of gloomy as it seems to be now. In the future, AI would do the boring and dangerous jobs and leave the art to competent, knowledgeable people. A future where more emphasis would be placed on people's mental well-being rather than driving them into a constant spiral of fatigue and depression. The working hours should be shorter than the basic 8 hours so there would be enough work for more people and the wages should be raised to a level where the rent can be paid with those hours. This would leave more time for hobbies and future development.

The personal security of every individual, be it physical or property security, is very important to me. That is why I would curtail the rights of every individual citizen and create a comprehensive database in which DNA and an encrypted numerical code would be stored immediately after birth. In the event of a crime, this database could be used to determine who was at the scene of the crime on the basis of items found (hair, blood.....). Even if data protectionists would be up in arms about it, such an anonymous and encrypted database would certainly be a major deterrent for potential criminals. For me personally, even a chip that everyone gets implanted would be a conceivable way of determining who was at the scene of the crime at the time. DNA samples can still be used to deny the time of the crime. Many, many crimes such as murder, assaults, burglaries and hit-and-runs could easily be solved. On the other hand, it can also be used to prove that a suspect is not guilty and convictions based on false "witness statements" or accusations could be refuted very easily. I am not a friend of surveillance, but if it serves security and is encrypted, then I am all for it.

The morning sun bathes the Berlin skyline in a golden light. I open the windows of my energy self-sufficient apartment - built from recycled materials, climate-neutral and fully connected. My personal AI assistant suggests sustainable options for the day: An appointment with an international team in a virtual conference environment, followed by a visit to the urban garden on the roof of our apartment complex. Europe has changed fundamentally since 2025. The transition to a circular economy has been accelerated by political decisions and fossil fuels have long been a thing of the past. Thanks to new technologies and AI-supported automation, society is more flexible and fairer. Education is digital, individualized and available throughout life. Social security systems guarantee a decent life for all. Vehicles drive silently and autonomously on the roads. Public transportation is free, financed by a Europe-wide digital tax. The air is clean, green parks dot the cities. I meet up with friends in a café where food waste no longer exists - everything is used sustainably. As I enjoy the view, I think about the challenges that Europe has overcome: Climate change, social inequality and economic disruption. But by acting together, we have created a future that is more sustainable, fairer and more liveable - for all Europeans.

Health is the most important thing for a person to stay alive. Timely access to medical care is very poor today. I am very hopeful of advances in technology that will give people the possibility of timely diagnosis and treatment of illness by an artificial arm. After all, the situation today is that a doctor prescribes a diagnosis and medication to a patient based on the symptoms described by the patient over the phone or in an e-health centre without seeing the person. The development of a self-driving car service would provide people with better mobility, regardless of where they live, their age or their state of health.

I hope that there will be no more wars and that all people can live together in peace. I wish for the environment to be better protected and for there to be no more pollution. I wish for animal welfare so that endangered species do not become extinct.

I imagine that in 2025 I will be able to take a spontaneous day trip to the moon with my family. There we can experience the wonders of weightlessness and enjoy a fantastic view of the blue planet, our home, from above. Such a short break far above our usual hemisphere is a very special experience.