In twenty years’ time, we will no doubt say that 2025 was the year when Europe seized, or missed, its chance to become a major player in world history once again, and above all to remain in control of its own destiny and remain free.
So many issues deserve to be addressed loudly and clearly, and to be acted upon. And yet, in so many circumstances, all we hear from Europe at the moment is empty rhetoric that says nothing of substance.
Here are just a few examples:
On its industrial decline: countless speeches and reports, including that of Mario Draghi, rightly denounce the absence in Europe of major champions in many important sectors of the future, the worrying deterioration of its competitiveness, the decline of its capacity for innovation, the narrowness of its markets, the stupidity of its competitive rules, its refusal to finance the military industry, even if it is dual, the absence of an industrial policy and joint financing for innovation, and the loss of sovereignty that will result. And yet nothing is being done. No doubt because, for the most part, this report, like many others before it, is more a statement of fact than a detailed outline of what should be done. And because no one, either in the Commission or in the Council of Ministers, has taken the time since its publication nine months ago to turn it into a list of detailed guidelines to be presented to the Council by the relevant Commission departments. The resistance of the old world, in Europe and elsewhere, which is content with a situation where everyone is master of their own little kingdom, rather than wanting to create continental giants, has thus succeeded, for the time being, in paralyzing any mobilization for a European industry of the future. However, all is not lost: in many sectors, a European company is still number one in the world, or at least among the top three; and there is virtually no sector in which there are not at least two European companies among the top ten in the world. All it would take is strong political will to win this battle in the new sectors.
On Ukraine: While European leaders, and first and foremost the French and Germans, are very active on the diplomatic front and seem to have succeeded for the moment in skillfully delaying the moment when the US president will abandon Ukraine to the Russians, it is clear in Kiev, Paris, Berlin, London, Moscow, and Beijing that this will happen, whether in a week or a year. And we also know that the Russians are just waiting for that moment to deliver the coup de grâce to a heroic Ukrainian army. So what are the Europeans waiting for to start mass-producing the weapons they need for themselves and for the Ukrainians? In this area too, no one is taking action. Here again, we are not in a war economy.
On Greenland: while the US president repeats at every opportunity his intention, which is perfectly rational from a geopolitical point of view, to seize this territory, protecting its sovereignty, which is so essential for Europe for the same reasons, would require Denmark to be supported by other European countries, particularly militarily, much more than it is today. Also, before the US puts a lot of troops there (which could happen legally at any time), why haven’t European countries offered to station troops in Denmark in solidarity, on a European basis (unless such a request has been made confidentially and has been refused, just as confidentially, which would be absurd)? Once again, no one is talking about mobilizing or putting the economy on a war footing.
On Africa: at a time when the United States is abandoning this continent, and while China continues to advance economically and Russia militarily, no one can deny that Africa is the EU’s main natural partner in the medium and long term. And yet nothing is being done, either in Brussels or in the major capitals, to rethink our strategy and occupy a position that it would be very dangerous to leave to others. Here again, we are not mobilized. And here again, everything will be decided in the coming months.
On the Middle East: our absence from all negotiations, our inability to make our voice heard, our paralysis, have so far prevented us from imposing very severe and immediate sanctions on a criminal Israeli government that dishonors the Zionist project; nor do they allow us to participate in the urgent rescue of the desperate population of Gaza, nor in the fight against Hamas, nor in playing a role in the reconstruction of a Palestinian Authority that is finally credible, honest, and capable of becoming the government of a Palestine recognized within secure and recognized borders. Once again, there has been no mobilization in Europe, other than speeches, even though this is urgent, even vital, and Europe’s responsibility and honor are particularly at stake because of the role that European powers played in the initial carving up of the borders of the countries in this region.
We could continue this list, talking about climate, biodiversity, education, and the shift towards a life economy.
How can we explain this negligence at such a crucial moment, other than by the astonishing invisibility of the President of the European Council and the abysmal incompetence of the Executive Vice-President of the Commission “
responsible for prosperity and industrial strategy,” the imperial will of the Commission President to control everything, stifle any initiative that does not originate from her, and regiment her services; and above all, by the lack of awareness among national leaders and the peoples of Europe of the extreme urgency of the situation.
We can remain masters of our own destiny. We can once again become a major player in history. Europe has a tremendous opportunity. But we must seize it.