EU Faces Challenges with Leadership Vacancy and Lack of Ambition, Can Collaboration Save the Day?

The European Union (EU) faces significant challenges and is currently unable to rely on support from Berlin and Paris. The leadership positions in Europe remain vacant, with the French president facing domestic setbacks that may hinder his ability to lead. On the other hand, the German Chancellor lacks ambition to lead in Europe and focuses mainly on preventing decisions that his coalition would not support.

Without initiatives from key EU capitals, Europe risks remaining stagnant in a rapidly changing world where countries like the USA, China, and Russia are challenging European interests. The need for joint geopolitical action in the EU is becoming more pressing as the global landscape shifts.

To address these challenges, the EU must transition from being primarily focused on socio-economic integration to becoming a platform for joint geopolitical action. While each EU member state guards its sovereignty in foreign and security policy, the EU can still serve as a forum for coordinating common goals.

With Ursula von der Leyen and Kaja Kallas potentially taking on significant EU leadership roles, there is hope for a more assertive European stance against aggressive powers like Russia and China. However, without support and political will from the capitals, EU institutions may struggle to make significant progress.

In addition to leadership changes, collaboration and coordination among EU capitals will be essential in navigating the challenges ahead. The appointment of leaders like Donald Tusk in Poland could also play a key role in shaping Europe’s future in a rapidly changing global landscape.

Overall, it is crucial that key EU capitals take initiative to address these challenges and work together towards common goals. Only then can Europe remain relevant and influential in an increasingly complex global landscape.