100 words on the upcoming EU State of the Union

The internal and external policy demands for EU decision-makers over the past year have been a testing experience showing no relief. With the EU and its members operating under a variety of pressures, GLOBSEC asks experts from Greece, the Netherlands, and Bulgaria; With von der Leyen’s last State of the Union before the end of this Commission’s mandate in 2024, what are the most pressing European challenges and what should the EU do next?

Louise van Schaik, Head of Clingendael's EU & Global Affairs Unit was invited by GLOBSEC to write 100 words.

Von der Leyen is confronted with a plate full of challenges, but with an outgoing Commission and European Parliament, tackling them is not a given. For some, EU reform is inevitable, but the Member States seem not yet ready to confront this. Whereas the primacy of the European Green Deal, geopolitical aspirations, and a focus on digital and economic security are commendable, the EU needs to do more to boost resilience. Bold action is needed to truly de-risk, build a common European defence industry and culture, and reduce further imported fossil fuels and critical raw materials. Instead, a leading position in green tech and supply chains closer to home need not only subsidies but a market that stimulates innovation and shields incubators from unfair international competition.

Read the contributions of the experts from Greece and Bulgaria here.