The EU's challenge is to navigate global disorder

Of course we need a Europe that decides. Time is short and one cannot wait for the unanimity rule to change. The most feasible path is that of enhanced cooperation, accompanied by 'passerelle clauses' for 'willing' countries that want to go down a common path.

Once this direction has been taken, the EU must act to redefine the geography of its international trade by seizing the opportunity of the spaces left open by the US administration's actions. The case of India is emblematic.

The instrument is trade agreements of which the Uruguay Round is a good example.

But this is not enough. An industrial policy with an international slant is the only viable way to compete seriously on new technologies and improve the trade balance of services, by extending technological and industrial policy agreements such as those that the EU practises internally through the Ipcei projects to countries committed to innovation.

Europe's commitment to alternative energies, although much debated because of the costs involved, has produced a wealth of patents and expertise that can be harnessed through international coalitions with countries interested in joint action, especially as alternative energies are of great importance in facing up to China's competition in electricity and renewables.

The European export-led model has a limitation (which countries like Sweden, Denmark and Norway escape) because its high-tech content is low and this comes at the cost of low real wage growth.

The strategic choice in favour of the high value-added services sector is inevitable, bearing in mind that there is a large foreign trade deficit in this sector (particularly with the US), especially in digital, IT and satellite technologies.

The financial aspects must not be forgotten. Private investments with higher risk and profitability have so far been inadequate, so much so that more than 300 billion of European savings go abroad in search of higher profitability.

To conclude: engagement on international aspects is a priority because it gives more value to the same investment policies as the growth proposals by Enrico Letta and Mario Draghi.

Finally, Europe's identity heritage cannot be separated from its ability to ensure democracy, fairness, inclusion and welfare for its citizens. These are values challenged by rising nationalisms which, in turn, are greatly affected by the crisis of the welfare state. It is up to the states to react to this trend, but it is also up to the EU to help tackle the common aspects that arise from changes related to demography, technology and energy transition.