Abstract
After President Trump’s departure, many expected that the transatlantic partnership would return to its previous state with the US playing a leading role. This article challenges that view. Instead, a new world order is foreseen, with different partnerships and spheres of influence. Europe can decide whether it wants to remain small and homogeneous or a larger but also more heterogenous Union that leads in welfare indicators such as life expectancy, fighting poverty and limiting climate change. Expanding this lead and communicating its uniqueness can empower Europe to combine enlargement and deepening, which appears unlikely without changes in governance and self-confidence.
Highlights
The COVID-19 crisis brought about new challenges and opportunities for the European Union, as it did for the entire world
The EU failed at using information and communications technology to accelerate dynamics and was slow to recover from the financial crisis
Booming labour productivity exacerbates the growth imperative; if labour productivity grows by 3%, output must increase at the same rate
Summary
After President Trump’s departure, many expected that the transatlantic partnership would return to its previous state with the US playing a leading role. Europe can decide whether it wants to remain small and homogeneous or a larger and more heterogenous Union that leads in welfare indicators such as life expectancy, fighting poverty and limiting climate change. Expanding this lead and communicating its uniqueness can empower Europe to combine enlargement and deepening, which appears unlikely without changes in governance and self-confidence. Europe benefits from globalisation but is reluctant to fight to make it more socially and environmentally responsible so as to fit the European model. A strong position in the new world order requires a deeper Union to boost the EU’s lead in sustainability, one that does not interfere but rather empowers and coordinates local solutions
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