We entered the 21st century with the presumption that Europeans and Americans would define the future of the world economy, drawing strength from their open and democratic systems, values and freedoms. Living through the “end of history”, we felt that peace, international cooperation based on our values, rule of law and an open market consensus would allow us to uphold our leading world position as a standard setter, and a key economy. We felt that the upcoming EU enlargement and globalisation would evolve in our favour.
We have let those assumptions cloud our judgement. Whilst acknowledging the changing world, such as the rapid rise of China or the emergence of regional powers, we have absolved ourselves from the need to proactively define, enforce and defend our interests in the world.
Our reactive responses to emerging challenges such as the 2008 financial crisis, the Arab Spring aftermath and the rise of authoritarian policies across the globe are testament to the fact that the European Union functions as an economic giant and a political dwarf, divided across multiple national interests and is ever-hesitant whether it should combine hard and soft power to pursue its global objectives.
By S&D vice-presidents, Marek Belka and Pedro Marques, S&D Group - Socialists & Democrats in the European Parliament
