19 May 2022
Madrid Headquarters
"The EU is indispensable. Only together can we face the great challenges that affect us. This was the categorical statement made by former minister and former MEP Ramón Jáuregui during his speech at the conference 'The geopolitical awakening of the European Union', held on 19 May at the Deusto Business School in Madrid.
The conference, presented by the corporate director of Deusto Business School, Marta Aguilar, was part of the European Union Programme, whose academic director, Susana del Río, was also a speaker, while the vice-president of the Spanish Association of Foundations and State Economist, Vicente Montes, acted as moderator.
During their respective speeches, both Susana del Río and Ramón Jáuregui were convinced of the need to strengthen the European Union, which is facing a decisive moment that has been highlighted by various events, ranging from the economic crisis, to the Brexit crisis, to the crisis caused by the pandemic and more recently marked by the recent war in Ukraine. All these situations have ultimately influenced a series of decisions that directly affect the development of Europe's strategic autonomy and its position on the world stage.
As part of the different strategies to be followed and to address such important challenges as security and defence, Ramón Jáuregui advocated the idea of promoting a separate European defence system with which to operate on the international stage. He assured, however, that this system would have to be done in dialogue with NATO. "We will have to find a solution that strengthens European defence without prejudice to strengthening NATO, but we should not concentrate all our efforts in that organisation, but rather have a system that allows it to play on the international stage," he said. He added that with the US we have many things in common, "but there are also differences of interest".
In turn, Susana del Río argued that, along with the possible creation of a European defence system, it would be important to promote "a real European diplomacy that, although its own, maintains coordination with NATO.
The speakers also agreed that the major developments of the last ten years are bringing the EU to a moment of virtual re-foundation. They also agreed that the European reaction has been so positive that it has come as a positive surprise to those who, like them, claim to be staunchly pro-European. The geopolitical awakening is being consistent with the challenges that have been presented, they said. They also stressed that united responses have been achieved despite internal contradictions within countries.
They also agreed on their staunch defence of the European Union, especially in terms of defending a model of freedoms and values. But ours is not a widespread model in the world. Only 40% of the world's population lives in democracy and autocracies are becoming entrenched, which is why, Jáuregui argued, it is essential "that Europe is able to articulate its role in the Western world".
When asked by the moderator what they thought would be the best design for European governance, the former MEP pointed out that the European Commission and even the European Parliament should be given more power because, at present, most important decisions are taken by the states and it should not be forgotten that national interests produce fractures and tensions.
He also referred to some measures that are currently on the table, such as the incorporation into the euro of all the countries that have already committed to adopting it, or the creation of a political structure parallel to the EU that would allow the rapid accession of countries such as Ukraine or some Balkan countries, for example, that have a vocation, but are currently far from being able to meet the economic requirements to be able to do so. This is an idea that, as both Del Río and Jáuregui explained, would involve a reform of the Treaty.
