The European Union wants to be more agile, faster and think more in common. The thing is how to get it. To mark the steps, the European Commission presented this week the road map of the next five years, the competitiveness compasnce; to hype and saucer, but without big surprises. It’s more to reform the plans to be original when raising new formulas. “Europe first”, but with caution and aware that in the EU the rhythms are what are. It is a bit a training sheet for a lighter and agile block, although the announcement that came out of the mouth of the commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, and the vice president in charge of the part of the strategic autonomy, Stephane Sejourné, was much more solemn
The plan is divided into Eight different areasranging from the simplification of the bureaucracy to the reinforcement of the single market passing for “closing the competitiveness gap” or the creation of quality jobs. Von der Leyen explained that Europe has “many strengths” from the commercial, labor and industrial point of view. That was his introduction to assume that the EU “also has weaknesses”; And at that point he recalled the union that the union with China, Russia and the US has had: “Those days have ended. We have to gain competitiveness“He said.
But,What does Brussels forget In the ‘building’ of the legislature?
Puntillas by defense
Competitiveness looks fully at the European industry, but the reality is that the Brussels approach does not give a main chapter to the defense, which is one of the great EU challenges in the short and medium term. It is true that this does not cover only the military; But there are hardly any mentions of how to coordinate better in defensive terms, a claim that has been making many high positions in Brussels for months. The key is, the commission insists, in “reducing the obstacles” that is still in the single market to Bet on innovation, with action plans for advanced materials, quantum, biotechnology, robotics and spatial technologies. “It’s time for unity and speed,” said the German leader.
These two premises are important especially at a time when the president of the United States, Donald Trump, He has claimed 5% of GDP in defense from alliesand all countries except Poland are far from that goal. Will it be competitive Europe if it does not take into account defensive capabilities? Many experts doubt it because the focus of the commission focuses not only on the relative to armies, but also – and above all – to restructure that part of the industry. But that path is not drawn at the competitiveness compass.
Will there be a new debt issuance?
The wills are almost always financed with money and the document also forgets to mention possible new debt emissions. Of course, it includes in this sense the idea of joint purchases of critical subjectsan element very in vogue because it is present for example in Greenland, which has become a new point of the geopolitical battle given Trump’s ínfulas to take control. Right now it is an autonomous territory that in defense and exterior depends on Denmark, and the EU has already put its two eyes there for interest, by community will and because it has a lot of strategic importance.
Plans from common, therefore, yes, how: Brussels ‘forget’ mention whether to carry out some of the proposals New debt emissions will be necessary, with the recovery funds model as a base. There are still many member states that are reluctant to this, but common acquisitions in defense or energy mark the way. However, the European Commission does not want to catch your fingers.
The 800,000 million that Draghi asks … where are they?
The inspiration of the strategic compass is the Draghi report, much more concrete than the newly out of Brussels. The European Union has to invest 800,000 million euros annually to be competitivethat is, more than double what was invested after World War II. Thus, without anesthesia. But with a road map that is clear. Draghi develops that it is crucial to delve into the coordination of regulation and eliminate administrative barriers; In addition, industrial, competition and commercial policies must be aligned to complete the union of capital markets and meet “unpublished” investment needs in half a century.
Von der Leyen hugs almost all those measures, but does not talk about the cost they will have. In many of her answers on how progress will be financed, the German made it clear that she will be seen over time and that All this will be covered in the new multiannual financial framework. Brussels knows that he has to hurry, but his plans are five years seen: the conclusion is that one cannot run when it is still known to walk in terms of competitiveness.
The key is to convince the Member States
However, what Brussels do are legislative proposals; Now the key is to convince the Member States and the division will be important, also depending on the electoral results that occur in Germany on February 23 or what is the political future of France. There are countries like Spain or Portugal that continue to advocate for large joint investments, but they will meet other more orthodox governments such as Italian, the Polish or an executive future led by the CDU. There will be the key, again: in combining in one 27 different political visions.
Ursula von der Leyen is aware of all that and does not want to deepen too much. The work of the commission can be deduced, it is left alone in the political will. “Us We put on the table some plans that are ambitioussome of which will take time, but you can get great achievements, “says sources consulted by 20 minutesthat do not come to see how the ideological division can influence the European Parliament or the different approaches of the countries.
Hurd, but without deadlines
Someone once said that the EU “is slow because it has to be”; That slowness is already a bad counselor. The Competitiveness Compass What he intends is to shorten some deadlines he doesn’t even speak of. It proposes more agility for companies and more opportunities, but it does not find – or at least it does not teach – a solution so that decision making at the highest level can arrive before China and the United States again advance to Europe on issues of the future.
The EU has the political plan and will, said von der Leyen, but when asked about the speed at both Trump and China, the President He assured that all this goes “of what Europe needs” and the “talent he has” To get it. The European Commission delivers the textbook … but the homework is still to be done.
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