Yesterday, we had an interesting discussion about the new political scenario [in the world]. It is clear that there are political dynamics, both internally and externally.
It is clear also that people have a different rapport, a different relationship with politics – even with truth.
We are in a scenario in which we are going to be facing a more, let’s say, transactional approach. On that, the only recipe [for success] is more European unity.
The only recipe for Europe to survive is to be more united. To build a stronger Europe, a sovereign Europe, able to face the challenges of the world without outsourcing our security to anyone else. We have to provide our own security, certainly counting on the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), but building more capacities.
It is clear that Europeans have to build their security. This security requires investing more in defence – but not only in defence, also in technology, to ensure our independence and sovereignty.
If you are not at the table, you will be on the menu. If you are not at the table of the geopolitical game, you will be on the menu.
The same thing can be said about Ukraine. Ukraine has to be at the table, not on the menu. So, we have to continue supporting independence, sovereignty of Ukraine. Whatever happens, we have to continue fulfilling our commitments with Ukraine.
We have to take care of our independence, economic security, and relationship with China. All that requires a single and more important word: unity, to build a stronger Europe.
Q&A
Q. High Representative any talk about [inaudible] yesterday during the dinner? Was it on the menu or on the table?
I want to repeat this sentence, because I think it is very illustrative: if you are not an actor, others act for you. In order to be an actor, Europeans have to be more united, because each one of us alone does not count in the world. In the world of giants, with a more transactional world – where interests will be more important than values – either you have your own capacities, starting by security and technology, or you will be [on] the menu. That requires a bigger effort for all European Member States to reinforce the understanding of the challenges. I have been working hard in the last years in order to make the Europeans understand that the world is a challenging place where you have to face real dangers. I said: “Europe is in danger” three years ago. Now it is clear that, in this new transactional world, in order to face these challenges, the Europeans have to be more united. This is my word. I am going to go to Ukraine in the next days. I want to go to Ukraine in the next days to see with the Ukrainian authorities how we can continue supporting them – because we have to continue supporting them.
Q. [Inaudible]
Anyway, we cannot outsource our capacity of action. Whatever happens in the United States, we have our interests, we have our values. Certainly, the United States is our most important partner. It is a fact. A historical, cultural and economic fact. Like it or not, the United States is our most important partner, economically, politically, culturally, linguistically. The history has built ties amongst us. Economic [ties are] also a very important issue that will not change – we do not want to change it. We want to continue being a strong partner of the United States, but we have to build our own capacity. [If we are] fragmented and divided, we will not be able to do that. [In spite of] whatever happens in other houses, we have to continue working in our house. The recipe for the future of the European Union is unity – I want to insist on that, in order to face whatever challenge. Certainly, the fact that the United States have chosen a President that will have specific ideas on the most important scenarios in the world – in Ukraine, in the Middle East, on the relationship with China – requires [that] Europeans have a clear understanding of their mission. Their mission – the most important mission – is to build Europe as a power, as a sovereign entity. Able to act, not outsourcing our security to anyone else. No one else will take care of our security.
Q. How long will it take?
It is not going to be done overnight. In fact, we started a couple of years ago, but we have to accelerate. Let me give you another example. You can put on hold everything but nature. You will not put nature on hold; climate will continue changing and we cannot allow ourselves to lose 4 years on the fight against climate change. See what has happened in the country I best know, in Spain – my country. See these natural catastrophes with their consequences. This is something on which we have to act on also, and act every day, putting in place the measures to control climate change because we cannot tell nature: “Wait, we are discussing. We are going to have a look at what is happening in the United States.” Nature will not be put on hold, and we have to continue putting our climate policies – as we have [already been doing, as] leaders– and make the world understand that this is not a problem of the Europeans; it is a problem of the whole humanity.
The same thing about Ukraine. [Russia’s war of aggression against] Ukraine is not only a problem for the Europeans; it is a problem of international security and respect of laws. This is something that has to be put in our position with respect to anyone – certainly, including with the United States. We have been partnering on taking into account the sovereignty and independence of Ukraine and we will have to continue doing that.
Thank you.