International reactions to the 2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum

Building Global Europe

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, September 10, 2020

We live in a world where interdependence is becoming more and more conflictual, in particular with the growing strategic rivalry between the US and China.

Key Points: 
  • We live in a world where interdependence is becoming more and more conflictual, in particular with the growing strategic rivalry between the US and China.
  • They consider they are entitled to control their surrounding neighbourhood in the name of alleged historical rights.
  • They only recognize the sovereignty of states and not the sovereignty of the people.
  • This is at the heart of our differences with Russia over Belarus or with China over Hong Kong.

Multilateralism in crisis

    • The world has become more multipolar but multilateralism has weakened, as evidenced by the growing paralysis of the United Nations Security Council, the deep crisis of the World Trade Organization, or more recently that of the World Health Organization.
    • And this precisely at a time when global problems, especially the climate crisis or health issues, are becoming more and more critical.
    • Trade, technology, data, information are now instruments of political competition.

“Europeans feel they live in an increasingly dangerous and unpredictable world. They need to be reassured that we can provide a meaningful and robust European answer. “

     

      Europe needs to act more united.

        • To avoid this fate, Europe must strengthen its traditional levers, look for new ones and take new and visible initiatives to enhance its global posture.
        • Europe needs at first to act in a more united way.
        • And frankly, the EU is the only platform enabling European democracies to promote and defend their interests effectively.
        • We must stop seeing Europe as a collection of national interests and instead define and defend together the common European interest.

      “Strategic autonomy” is about defending our interests and values by acting multilaterally whenever we can, but being ready to act autonomously whenever we must.”


          We need to strengthen our capacities to act autonomously. The concept of “Strategic autonomy” is not about protectionism but about having the capacity to defend our interests and values by acting multilaterally whenever we can, but being ready to act autonomously whenever we must.  

      We have more levers that we think

        • To achieve this, we have more levers of influence than we ourselves often believe.
        • Our internal market is still one of the most important in the world and no external player can afford to neglect it.
        • We must use it to its full potential, taking a holistic approach and overcoming silos.
        • The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the fragility of existing global value chains and Europes vulnerability in that regard.

      “Re-localisation and economic sovereignty have become dominant themes. We need to link closely our industrial and research policy with our foreign policy”.

         

          The principle of reciprocity is key


            Relations with foreign partners must be evaluated according to the principle of reciprocity. This must become the rule, not the exception, while of course bearing in mind the need to take into account different levels of development and overall strategic interests. The rules that we impose on European companies, particularly with regard to subsidies, must also apply to non-European companies that want to enter our market.  

          “Where necessary, we should be ready to adopt a more robust and strategic approach as we have done for instance with China.”

            • Where necessary, we should be ready to adopt a more robust and strategic approach as we have done for instance with China.
            • We have worked to build our relationship with China on more reciprocity and a level playing field in trade, investment and beyond.
            • By highlighting our political differences, we have achieved that Beijing has to take Europe more seriously.
            • Our partners stability and prosperity are crucial for the EUs own security and strategic interests.

          “The EU has a strong stake in maintaining and developing a rules-based international order within the framework of an effective multilateralism.”

            • The EU has a strong stake in maintaining and developing a rules-based international order within the framework of an effective multilateralism even if others are clearly trying to weaken it.
            • The joint Communication on Multilateralism that we are planning for next year will set out what the EU can do to counter this trend.Over the years, the EU has been quite successful on the climate issue but we must also contribute more actively to reform what needs to be changed, for example in the WHO and WTO.

          “As EU we can and should do more to develop a level playing field when it comes to social and human rights.”

            • As EU we can and should do more to develop a level playing field when it comes to social and human rights, through enhanced so-called due diligence requirements for economic operators in their procurement chain.
            • We must strengthen our trade policy to ensure that the commitments made by our partners with regard to social and environmental standards are fully respected.
            • We must also reflect on the implications ofa carbon border tax without which the Green Deal would lead either to carbon leakage or to competitive disadvantage.
            • And of course we must continue to lead the global fight against tax havens.

          The need to overcome scepticism

            • I know there is a lot of scepticism in Europe about our ability to achieve this, but I am convinced we can succeed.
            • And outside observers are too: "Europe's geopolitical awakening" is an article published last month by the renowned American magazine Foreign Affairs.
            • However, it depends obviously above all on us, on our common will and actions, to make Global Europe really happen.

          Sabine Lautenschläger: A Call for Europe

          Retrieved on: 
          Thursday, October 31, 2019

          A Call for EuropeSpeech by Sabine Lautenschläger, Member of the Executive Board of the ECB, at lecture series “Mein Europa”, Heinrich-Heine University These are the words spoken by Konrad Adenauer in 1946, when reconciling Europe and securing peace were paramount.

          Key Points: 

          A Call for Europe

            Speech by Sabine Lautenschläger, Member of the Executive Board of the ECB, at lecture series “Mein Europa”, Heinrich-Heine University

              • These are the words spoken by Konrad Adenauer in 1946, when reconciling Europe and securing peace were paramount.
              • National arrogance and isolationism had culminated in two world wars two world wars which had wreaked death, misery and chaos on Europe.
              • For those who lived through the Second World War, a strong Europe, a united Europe, represented the future and the path to lasting peace.
              • A united Europe has bestowed peace and prosperty to each Member State and its people the German people included.
              • And the future challenges facing each and every one of us can only be met by working together in Europe.

            1. Sceptisism towards the advantages of Europe

              • Public scepticism towards Europe has grown: in 2007 some 57% of the EU population said they trusted the EU, but this share has now fallen to 44%.
              • [1] At the same time, Eurosceptic parties have almost doubled their share of votes over the past ten years.
              • [2] One explanation is that people feel unsettled, not only in the face of advancing globalisation and structural changes but also because of increasing migration.
              • Far-reaching changes, fear and a sense of disorientation often cause people to reject whats new and retreat to what is familiar.
              • Some Eurosceptic parties are pushing for a retreat from Europe, a withdrawal behind national borders.
              • Because it fails to recognise the many benefits that Europe has brought us.

            Europe has brought peace.


              With the European Union we have found a way of resolving conflict that has ushered in the longest period of continuous peace in the history of Europe. The EU has transformed a continent of war into a continent of peace. We should not take this for granted – and the award of the Nobel Peace Prize to the EU reminds us not to do so.

            Europa has brought freedom.

              • Lets not forget that in 1957, only 12 of the current Member States were democracies, compared with 28 now.
              • Europe has provided an unprecedented degree of freedom of movement.
              • Thanks to the EU, European citizens enjoy border-free travel and are free to study and work within the EU, creating inestimable development opportunities for everyone.
              • And every year we cross one of the internal borders within the Schengen area an almost inconceivable 1.27 billion times.

            Europe has brought prosperity.

              • This last point, more prosperity across Europe, is one I must adress separately.
              • Because the economic benefits of Europe are often a point of contention in Germany.
              • Hardly any other economy has profited from the Single Market as much as Germany.
              • Were it not for an open Europe and the creation of the Single Market, the robust economic growth of the post-war era would have levelled off over time.
              • Free movement of goods, capital and payments and freedom of services have allowed Europe to grow more closely together, have advanced the German economy and have brought prosperity to us all.
              • Without the euro, open markets in Europe would not have lasted long.
              • I have now spoken about the past advantages of a united Europe.
              • Here, too, I am convinced that all of us, Germany too, will be able to master the challenges of the future in a united Europe.

            2. The advantages of Europe for future challenges


              All countries in Europe face major, predominantly global, challenges, such as increasing worldwide competition, climate change and technological progress.

            a. Global competition

              • And we need the EU in order to retain our capacity to act and to shape global developments.
              • The economic weight of Europes Member States has drastically declined over the past decades.
              • Looking at the aggregate economic performance of EU countries, the EUs share in global economic output has fallen from around a third in the 1980s to a sixth today.
              • In such an interconnected world, individual countries will therefore find it increasingly difficult to uphold their prosperity and social security provisions.
              • The OECD estimates that the global revenue shortfall owing to tax avoidance amounts to between 4% and 10% of corporate income tax receipts.
              • By pulling together, countries in Europe are in a better position to withstand global developments.
            Power lies in numbers.
              • And around 50% of cross-border financial holdings in the euro area are from other euro area countries.
              • In practical terms, this means, for example, that Germany exports more goods to France than to China.
              • So its not surprising that turning away from Europe could have disasterous consequences for our prosperity.
              • No country has the heft required to make itself heard in international trade talks and signficantly influence trade conditions.
              • Neither is Germany: our share in global trade is only half the size of that of the EU.
              • [9] If we are to profit from this international growth, we need open markets and a strong voice in international trade talks.
              • And with the combined weight of EU Member States in global value chains, European firms can set their standards throughout the world.

            b. Climate change

              • Ladies and gentlemen, joint action in Europe is also needed to overcome a completely different challenge facing all countries, namely climate change.
              • But countries cannot win the struggle against climate change on their own: pollution does not respect borders.
              • Climate change is a global phenomenon that poses complex coordination issues for national governments and affects many areas of life, including the economy.
              • Allow me to concentrate on some of the economic consequences of climate change.
              • For one, climate change affects competitiveness in the Single Market.
              • Even the direct effects of climate change alone may have an enormous impact on the economy.
              • All of this shows the extent to which climate change and environmental measures can affect economic activity, assets and jobs.
              • Europe offers a unique opportunity to combat climate change and so reduce the potential damage to the economy.
              • As one of the three largest economic blocs in the world, Europe can be at the vanguard of the fight against climate change.
              • Third, the ECB together with other leading central banks can examine the potential effects of climate change on the conduct of monetary policy.

            c. Payments

              • Payments are one such example.
              • Safe, reliable and efficient payment systems are a vital part of a well-functioning and integrated economy.
              • Technological progress and changing payment habits have fundamentally altered the payment system and thrown up new challenges.
              • End users now expect to be able to transfer money around the world in real time and at low cost.
              • If they want to make cross-border payments in Europe with ease, they frequently rely on global players such as VISA, Mastercard and PayPal.
              • According to current plans, users across the globe should be able to make payments not in euro or US dollars, but in Libra.
              • Irrespective of how the payments landscape evolves over the coming years, it is essential that users of the various payment systems can be confident that all payment solutions, old and new alike, are safe and efficient.

            3. A plea for more European integration

              • This topic has many different aspects, but I would like to focus today on one key question: how can we advance the banking union project?
              • A robust banking sector is thus vital for a healthy European economy and a stable single currency.
              • And the banking union a single framework for the supervision and resolution of banks in the euro area has already come a long way.
              • But the banking union is still lacking an important component: a European deposit insurance scheme.
              • In the long run this can only be done through a European deposit insurance scheme.
              • These three features of a shared deposit insurance scheme would strengthen the individual responsibility of Member States, banks and shareholders and further incentivise risk-based behaviour.
              • And this would ultimately be to the benefit of the EU and all its member countries.

            4. Finding a common way in Europe

              • Europe is our opportunity to act together where we face global challenges.
              • More Europe is therefore the way forward in such an interconnected world.
              • But dont get me wrong this is not an appeal for Europe to regulate all aspects of our lives.
              • Successful cooperation requires us to work on the basis of shared values, objectives and cooperation principles, of course.
              • And despite all the benefits and the motto united in diversity, there is growing scepticism about Europe.
              • I firmly believe that the time has come for us to redefine the way in which we work and, in particular, the way in which we communicate.
              • Only then will we be able to counter the growing polarisation among the people of Europe.
              • A similar kind of model for exchanging views and participating in political discussions on European matters could also serve Europe well.
              • Citizens assemblies could be a helpful way of bringing together citizens in a given country to talk about European issues.
              • And even if it does take longer, we all stand to gain from closer cooperation within Europe.

            Conclusion

              • Never before in the history of our continent have we lived together in such peace for so long, and never before have we enjoyed such freedom.
              • Europe has brought us considerable prosperity, and this has benefited all countries, including Germany.
              • It is then often easier to think in national terms and to ignore the problems to a certain degree.
              • And populists are exploiting this situation to spread a new kind of nationalism a withdrawal from Europe.
              • As Konrad Adenauer once said, No European nation is able to protect itself militarily or develop economically on its own.
              • If one wanted today to uphold the traditional concepts of nationalism, this would be a task for Europe.