The agenda of this summit of 27 was turned upside down by the war. Two emergencies on the menu: defense policy and energy. And a hope, that of seeing Europe continue to show the audacity and voluntarism it has shown for two weeks. So often criticized for the cumbersomeness of its procedures and its endless divisions, the Union has been able to strike quickly and hard to punish the Russian economy like never before, exclude its banks from the Swift transaction network, and attack the oligarchs and Putin in the wallet. -same. Without forgetting a historic turning point: the decision to deliver arms to Ukraine.
There is a real awareness of the danger, which is forcing Europe to rethink its defence. Certain States have operated real spins, such as Germany which turns the page of its anti-militarism to announce an unprecedented defense effort or Sweden which breaks with its neutrality to deliver arms to the Ukrainians.
Emmanuel Macron intends to take advantage of these circumstances to relaunch his autonomous European defense strategy project. Until then, he preached in the desert and came up against the opposition of several states including Germany. He wants to take advantage of the Versailles summit to reopen the file.
But beyond the emotion aroused by Putin’s aggression, one can think that for Europe, the hardest part begins: it must preserve its unity to build a common defense, but also to conquer its energy independence. And we know the divisions between the States ready to cut imports of Russian gas and oil and those who refuse to do so because they are too dependent on them.
It’s unprecedented. Five years ago, in 2017, the endless psychodrama of Brexit had begun. Candidates dreamed of Frexit, Marine Le Pen wanted to bury the euro. Five years later, none of that. The departure of the United Kingdom has turned into a disaster and Europe is once again the envy. It imposes itself as a protection, a security, in the face of war as well as to manage the migratory challenge.
Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova are knocking on the door. And the candidate Macron, who refused to postpone the calendar of the French presidency, no doubt hopes to take advantage of this climate at the ballot box.