ds. On 2 April a guest commentary in the “Neue Zürcher Zeitung” was publishes under the title “After the war of aggression: the birth of geopolitical Europe”. Vincent-Immanuel Herr and Martin Speer, two “European activists and publicists” wrote that with the attack on Ukraine on 24 February, the European order that had more or less applied since 1950 came to an end. The EU must now develop into a “values superpower” capable of defence. In their contribution, they focus on two areas in particular. These are “military and security issues” and the development of a “European sense of unity”.
“Military and security policy issues”
In order to strengthen military and security policy, it was necessary to “centralise and bundle” European foreign, security and defence policy more strongly. To this end, “national responsibility” would have to be gradually transferred to the “European level”.
The EU representative for foreign affairs must become “an EU foreign minister with extended powers”. A newly founded “EU Foreign and Security Council” – which would “explicitly not be based on the principle of unanimity in decision-making” – should determine the “strategy and orientation”.
There was a need for an “independent European armed force” consisting of army, air force and navy as well as an integrated cyber command. It would also be conceivable to “further develop the French nuclear armament into an independent European nuclear umbrella”.
The establishment of a “common European secret service” would also be necessary..
“European sense of unity”
In order to promote a “European sense of unity”, the two authors suggest: “Introduce English as an additional official language in all EU states”: “Forms in offices or important signposts should always be available in English throughout Europe”.
In the media sector, a European platform would be useful that would make news and content from national broadcasters from all parts of the EU available online and offline in different languages and thus support “the formation of a European public”. This media platform could gradually be developed into a “global news channel along the lines of the BBC or CNN” and thus develop “worldwide appeal”.
In order to promote a common cultural understanding, a “mandatory European civil or military service for all young people” would be also conceivable, which could be completed not only in the home country, but in all EU member states.
“Birth of Geopolitical Europe”
The new chapter of European unification, the two European activists who received the Jean Monnet Prize for European Integration in 2018, write, could turn the EU “into a geopolitically relevant, responsible and capable of defence value superpower, in whose family other European states could also be absorbed in perspective”.
But do we really need a new “values superpower”? And which states should be included in it? Switzerland too, for example? •
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