With the bloc buffeted by multiple geopolitical crises, it\u2019s starting to realize that it can\u2019t come to grips with them if it only acts when all 27 member countries agree. From defense to energy to investment, the European Commission, which makes the rules, and national governments, which are supposed to implement them, are finding themselves hamstrung. Meanwhile, businesses talk of being strangled by red tape and high energy costs.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Donald Trump\u2019s threats to seize Greenland and his wavering on helping Ukraine fend off Russia, combined with China’s strategy of flooding Europe with artificially cheap goods, have provided an impetus to the EU’s most senior decision-makers to finally get moving.<\/p>\n
Thursday\u2019s summit of EU leaders \u2014 only 15 kilometers from the Dutch city of Maastricht, where one of the most significant treaties underpinning the bloc was signed in 1992 \u2014\u00a0occasioned some \u201cstrategic brainstorming\u201d on how to \u201cpromote our prosperity, create high quality jobs and ensure affordability,” European Council President Ant\u00f3nio\u00a0Costa said.<\/p>\n
\u201cToday\u2019s discussion brought a new energy and shared sense of urgency around that objective,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
At their summit back in Brussels next month, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will present what she called a\u00a0\u201cOne Europe, One Market Roadmap and Action Plan\u201d\u00a0setting out reforms in areas such as\u00a0reducing administrative burdens and unleashing private and public capital to help European start-ups scale up. Leaders will vote on the plan when they meet again before the summer.<\/p>\n