In a few days,
Ursula von der Leyen’s Cabinet will officially be installed in the Berlaymont
building on Schuman Square. An extraordinary way of choosing the new European
leader, who after
5 months of stress finally takes on her mandate...
I still
believe that the main priority of the new set of European commissioners should
be industrial policy on the Franco-German axis, but also through the
strategic involvement of the New
Hanseatic League.
The
"Green Deal" - the new terrible child at European level - will only have
the expected effect if we have an integrated approach with industrial policy,
passed through a realistic discussion about who pays the energy transition
bills at European level. However, this "green deal" will have a huge
effect if the EU succeeds in applying the environmental standards to products
from China. Something like "energy traceability and trade"...
Although many
criticize the European structure, when viewed on a global scale, the EU is the
champion of democratic multilateralism. Parliament, common currency, political decisions...
are just some of the results that make ASEAN, MERCOSUR or the African Union
jealous. Our generation participated in the democratization of
the European continent. It
may not be bad for our children's generation to discuss global governance, and the EU to be the catalyst for this evolutionary
process. European political structures can of course play a role in the new global
institutional construction.
Africa offers
a geopolitical test to the new European Commission. The
European Union has the historical chance to extend its influence to other
territories, strengthening its role as a world power. Africa is the continent that is waiting for a
rapprochement with Europe, but not within the framework of a Development
Policy, but by launching a true Marshall Plan for Africa, as some politicians have recently stated.
Great
attention needs to be given to the hasty movements of the French President. The
vision for the integration of the Balkans, the attack to NATO on the
anniversary clock, does not inspire comfort in the European community. And
if Emmanuel Macron thinks he is preparing a final for Elysée in 2022 with the
same Marine Le Pen, he is wrong. A
real France, very anchored in Left politics, can push a candidate like Jean-Luc
Mélenchon to the final, and Mr. Macron is mirroring Nicolas Sarkozy, a French
president of the Right who did not enter the final in his re-election attempt.
I want to
welcome the vision of the European Youth Forum in choosing Tirana as the European Youth Capital
in 2022! I
am glad that this signal is given to the young Albanians, the ardent supporters
of Europe.
I cannot
finish this message without joining EURACTIV’s team who celebrated in Brussels
the 20
years of existence. I am happy to live inside the "European public
sphere press" for 19 years... the story continues...
Dan LUCA / Brussels