Michel: Europe Risks Becoming Museum of the World

From December 1, the head of the European Council will be replaced by Antonio Costa

Europe must get back in the game, it must rebuild a competitive economy and have more sovereignty, otherwise it risks becoming a “museum of the world.” This was explained to The European Newsroom by Belgian politician and president of the European Council Charles Michel, whose mandate is expiring. He will be replaced by Portugal’s Antonio Costa from December 1.

On the “strategic autonomy” that Europe should have (and is far from having), Michel explains: “I know there are still problems, but in this area, thanks to a series of crises, we have made more progress in the last five years than we have in the last thirty years.” The Belgian politician then comments on dependence on the USA and the feeling that Europe’s future depends on the US presidential election on November 5: “I don’t want my children or grandchildren to depend on who becomes the next president of the United States, China, or Russia. I want them to retain control of their destiny because we in Europe decide our future.”

Michel also spoke of migration, “political challenge” that Brussels should not be afraid to face in “swift and concrete” ways and was referring to the controversial agreement between Italy and Albania to set up detention centers on the eastern shore of the Adriatic.

Then a further push for a “single European project” is needed, for example, through capital union and strengthening European industry and defense. Michel also called for the Union’s enlargement, with a special focus on the Balkans, and expressed doubts about the move to “majority” rather than consensus decision-making, while recognizing that the lack of unity prevents the EU from having sufficient weight. And the Middle East can serve as an example: “We must be more ambitious and avoid the poison of double standards: I fear what we will discover when Gaza is reopened.”