Among the harshest criticisms leveled at the European Union, the most frequent concerns the slowness of its reactions. It is said to be a great behemoth incapable of moving at the necessary speed to compete with those capable of dictating the pace of political communication and deciding on their own without the need to engage in our typical, exhausting institutional liturgies.
To receive authorization from the EU authorities and European leaders to do, or even simply to say something, the EU requires long and numerous meetings. This is the exact opposite of the image portrayed by United States President Donald Trump, who signs dozens of executive orders on his own, a symbol of the dramatic rift between the two sides of the Atlantic that has emerged over the past few tumultuous weeks.
Yet, with the decisions taken by the European Council on Thursday, March 6, the EU came to the end of 10 days that have wiped out – at least for now – its reputation for slowness. The Paris summit [February 17], the participation of key European leaders at the London summit [March 2] and the European Council meeting in Brussels give the image and substance of a determined Europe that has been quick to react to this unprecedented situation.
European decisions are moving in the right direction. They were taken in a hurry, which is becoming a fundamental element in today's world, and show that cohesion prevails on the continent. It's also a good thing that Brussels has decided to use the common model that was the key to the success of Europe's NextGenerationEU plan to emerge from the Covid-19 recession, when considering the financing of European defense.
Insufficient economic integration
The next two steps are essential if this success is not to be short-lived. It is now clear that the policy of the US administration is openly hostile to the EU, as explained [on February 14] by Vice President JD Vance at the Munich Security Conference and confirmed by President Trump's statements, with this incredible phrase: "The EU was created to screw the United States."
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