Editorial
The worldwide Coronavirus pandemic has reached Europe. We are afraid of how insufficient the medical precautions in some countries are and how unprepared the Union itself is in this civil security sector. Covid-19 is putting Europe to the test in a time when the global power situation is changing, and re-nationalisation is progressing. Only a sovereign European Union will overcome this crisis and be able to act in the future as a global strategic player. However, the worst case for the Union is now, and it must show that it is more than a conglomerate of nations. The medical situation is one aspect, but the Union also has to prepare for a shutdown of the worldwide economy and be prepared to help save the economy and industries in Europe and abroad. Globalisation will continue, but it has to be adapted to the lessons learned from this crisis. The Union has the chance to influence new rules for globalisation, taking into account its own global ambitions. What direction will the Union take in the future? Europe must strongly defend its interests and sovereignty, and it will be important not to confound tolerance with weakness. 2020 will be a decisive year for Europe and it could become a good one, if the Union with its Member States succeed in mastering the coronavirus pandemic. The policy of the new president of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and her strategic objectives are trying to meet the urgent requests of citizens in European societies. They have the willingness to look for concrete answers to the most crucial problems of the population and the inescapable tasks in foreign, defence and security policy, but also in industry policy, the digital revolution and research. Strategies for migration and ecology are of utmost importance. The Commission must try more than it did before to reach people in
societies through adapted communications. The Union must reach the hearts of its citizens! In all these fields, the priorities are to consolidate the Union internally and protect it against external threats. Its first task is to Hartmut Bühl address how it can consolidate Europe internally: where do we need European common solutions and where should competences be transferred back to nations. The Union, together with its Member States, must make it clear that it will not become a playground for anti-global disinformation and the home of populists. The second task is more than evident: we must prepare Europe to be resistant to all external threats. Europe has to react to crisis situations through prevention and response. We need strong civil security and a competent European defence, not positioned against NATO but within it. Only a strong Union with internal solidarity and the means to secure peace for Europe, but also ready to engage globally, will meet the future. Our European Union is a club, and in every club, members have to follow rules. Without a superior authority setting a course and watching over them, the club will not function. Without the willingness of the Member States to cooperate and to share responsibilities, the Union will be a pile of junk. Ursula von der Leyen has the power to set the Union’s policy. She has decided, with her Commission, to make the Union more human and develop it into a political power and strategic actor. To achieve these objectives, she needs a lot of sensitivity, but also resoluteness and perseverance. This is her chance!
Photo: private, LISphoto.com
The Union put to the test
IMPRESSUM: The European − Security and Defence Union Headquarters: International Consulting 6, Rue du Château, F 28260 Berchères-sur-Vesgre (FR) E-Mail: hartmut.buehl@orange.fr Publisher and Editor in Chief: Hartmut Bühl, Berchères-sur-Vesgre (FR) Phone: +49/172 32 82 319 E-Mail: hartmut.buehl@orange.fr Deputy Editor-in-Chief: Nannette Cazaubon, Paris (FR) E-Mail: nannette.cazaubon@magazine-the-european.com
Editorial Assistant: Céline Merz, Linz a. Rhein (GE) E-Mail: editorial.assistant.esdu@gmail.com Translater: Miriam Newman-Tancredi, Castres (FR) and London (GB) Layout: Beate Dach, SpreeService, Berlin (GE) Advertisement & Sales: Andy Francis Stirnal, Berlin (GE) Phone: +49/175 6686 1543 Print: Polyprint GmbH (GE) © 2020 by International Consulting, France
3
