Let’s talk about the great news of these weeks in the world scenario with Paolo Gentiloniwho was Foreign Minister, Prime Minister and last European Commissioner for Economic Affairs.
– The news of the day is the vote in the United Nations General Assembly, which saw the United States for the first time vote together with Russia and against the European allies on a resolution that reiterated the condemnation of Ukraine’s invasion. We wonders if this break is contingent, linked to the attempt to improve the relationships between Washington and Moscow, or prefigure a world order in which Europe must “do it alone” by serving the hostility of the great powers.
“The vote on the UN Security Council also highlights an unprecedented crack in transatlantic relationships, to the advantage of autocrazies. We have a double task to us Europeans: to strengthen our strategic autonomy and not resign ourselves to the sunset of the West ».
– In rapid succession, in the last three days we have had the electoral victory in Germany of a very determined Europeanist such as Friedrich Merz, an increase in penalties in Moscow, the convening of an extraordinary European Council to decide on the aid to Ukraine and the journey to Kiev of many European and western leaders on the occasion of the third anniversary of the Russian invasion. Can we say that Europe begins to react to the shock of the election of Trump and its hard verbal attacks on the EU?
«The speed with which President Trump is making decisions that shake the world order has caught many surprise, in the United States and Europe. But now a reaction is looming and I hope it is up to par. I have always thought that, in addition to constituting a challenge, the new American administration is an opportunity for the EU. Decisions so far very difficult to take are finally put on the agenda ».
– In Germany the electorate seems to have wanted to “stem” the advance of the far right of Afd. But the re -proposal of a formula of large koalition, aimed above all at keeping the extremists out of the government, does not risk posting and perhaps worsen the problem?
«The Grosse Koalition was the preferred solution by the candidate Cancellor Merz, given the implosion of the previous three -traffic” traffic light “. Three very different parties remain outside the government: Afd, Verdi and Linke. I don’t think their opposition can be an incubator of a government alternative. AFD has been included in the electoral debates on TV and had the enormous social support of Elon Musk. But it did not go beyond that 20% that the polls had already recorded for months. Its growth potential are alarming but not unlimited ».
– In the USA Trump, and in Europe the rights of all kinds including the moderate ones, put the green Deal at the center of their attacks, those who call the “ideological excesses” of the ecological transition policy promoted by the progressives, but also by the von der Leyen commission of which she was part. Have you really failed to “common sense”, and the objectives set for decarbonisation are exaggerated, harmful to industry and European consumers?
«You can discuss some decisions and some deadlines to adapt the European Green Deal to the most recent developments and to avoid negative impacts in some sectors and territories. But the European leadership cannot be lost in the climatic transition and I am convinced that Von der Leyen will not lose it. As Mario Draghi, decarbonisation and industrial policies has written in his report, can be made compatible. And many sectors of the Green Economy and the circular economy are great opportunities for the European industry ».
– What can this new European Union course mean to Italians, inevitably moved to the right? The Next Generation EU in its Italian version – the PNRR – will remain an isolated case of great financial support for our public works, especially those of the South?
«In the match of European common funds they do not oppose both right and left and national interests and cultures. Just as in the end Ngeu was accepted by Angela Merkel, I do not exclude openings from Germany to CDU guided, especially if on an internal level it will be committed to reviewing its debt brake rule. Of course, the success of PNRR funding, in addition to being vital for our South, will be decisive to be able to re -propose common funding of European common goods ».
– Many leaders – including her – pushed hard for a massive European common investment plan in the defense sector. It is difficult to avoid calling it “European rearmament”, which is a somewhat disturbing concept. How would it be explained to the Italians the fact that they are spent in armaments and military software resources that would be very useful here for other purposes?
«Europe has entrusted its safety to the United States for decades. This was becoming difficult even before Trump. Today it could prove impossible. We are fond of our European social model, but we must also protect it. If instead of increasing spending in scattered order, fueling duplications and inefficiencies, we promoted in the common fund we could encourage purchases in common and European defense systems. Already today you do not spend little and beyond two thirds of the systems we buy are not European ».