The hard truth: Europe is being outmanoeuvred. While Washington and Beijing rewrite the rules of the global economy through market distortions and strategic coercion, Europe clings to a playbook that no longer works. The result? We are losing ground in trade, technology, and geopolitical influence, while our firms face higher barriers at home than abroad, and our European tools of leverage gather dust. Recent crises, from the war in the Middle East to energy volatility, are no reason to postpone this discussion; they only underscore Europe’s urgency to act.
Our greatest assets remain underused. Like an internal market of 450 million people that, properly integrated, can generate the scale and competition needed to lead in clean technologies, digital innovation, and advanced manufacturing. Or a high level of savings that has not been put to the service of financing Europe’s innovation needs. Or an inability to leverage sectors or activities on which the world depends. All this without abandoning our sustainability goals or the green agenda that are a powerful source of competitive advantage.
To stop losing ground, Europe must learn to stand its ground.