Mark Leonard
European Council on Foreign Relatiion, London 2017. pp. 11
Summary
Against the odds, Brexit and Trump have inspired a new mood of unity among Europeans. Rather than defending the world of yesterday, Europe’s leadedrs need to reinvent the EU’s relations with the outside world and with its own citizens to give meaning to the idea Europe can protect its own.
Europe has to abandon its hopes of creating the world in its image. Instand of continuing to live the dreams of universalism, the way forward for the the EU is to embrace and secure its exeptionalism, preserving the dreams of a strong liberal order internally while accepting a returbn to a weaker liberal order in the rest of the world.
Thy EU also needs to restore the permissive consensus which allows it to function, both between the EU and its citizensand between its member states. Instand of promoting interdependence, the EU needs to make it less risky by dealing with negative consequences vconnected with migration, free trade, and monetary union.
France – German leadership will be essential but the new Europe is more likely to succeed if it mobilises a Europe of flexible coalitions rather than one of ceocentric circles.
