It is clear to everyone that the coming year will be an important one for the European Union. Even beyond the renewed institutions - Parliament, Commission, Council - it is Europeans in the broadest sense of the term who are now being challenged.
Imperialism and expansionism are back in vogue. By force in Russia, in the China Sea and in the Middle East, in words and declarations in the United States. Not just on the part of state actors, but also among the ‘tech oligarchs’, struck by the hubris of capitalisation and the apparent (temporary?) success of their businesses.
After the excesses of “wokism”, the laissez-faire attitude of the wealthy who have lost their bearings, the pendulum has swung back sharply. The movement is aims to be libertarian. It is attacking the rules and, of course, Europe, the continent of law, is directly targeted.
First and foremost, on Europe's agenda is the defence of a model of civilisation that is directed, i.e. regulated, which ensures solidarity and openness. A defensive posture is not enough.
Europe must mobilise all its forces and get back into the race, economically, technologically and diplomatically. Three precepts among others should guide its action from the start of this year:
First, catch up with the major economies. For the time being, it must prioritise growth over any other objective, which is a prerequisite for successful transitions, regain the confidence of its citizens by creating wealth for the benefit of all, and to achieve this, change its economic policy. Mario Draghi is right.
Stimulate innovation. We need to put a stop to the race that pushes national and European administrations to enact ever more rules and legislation. A general moratorium on the adoption of new constraints should be declared. In fact, no major invention has ever resulted from a legal standard. There are just too many of them.
Building a common foreign and defence policy is more urgent than ever. The added value of the European dimension must be demonstrated in every step forward, and we cannot be convincing in this area of sovereignty if we are led to believe that the common institutions want to replace the Member States. Everyone must play their part in the necessary revival with nuance and pragmatism, without just ‘paying lip service’, a lesson learned from Robert Schuman 75 years ago.
Faced with these challenges, there is no need to despair, as we too often see at home. Europe is well equipped to rise to them. In fact, it has already embarked on genuine transformations. And it continues to do so.It is in a position to regain the enthusiasm of its beginnings, because it will very quickly appear as the best example and the true promoter of liberal democracy in the face of the dictatorships and autocracies that are proliferating. A cause to be defended with those of our allies who wish to do so. But if need be, on our own.
