Europe’s urgent task is to relearn how to acquire and wield power; it must be prepared to confront adversaries and sometimes friends, including America, which will still be there after Mr Trump. Instead of cowering, it needs an objective appraisal of the threat. Russia is a war machine with a vast arsenal of nuclear weapons, but also a medium-size economy that is declining. Europe also needs an equally objective appraisal of its own strengths: although it is slow-growing, Europe is still an economic and trade giant with great reserves of talent and knowledge. It needs to use those resources to reinvigorate growth, rearm and assert itself.
Konkreettisesti Economist vaatii siis tätä:
What does that mean? In the short term Europe needs a single envoy to talk to Ukraine, Russia and America. It should tighten its embargo on Russia even if America loosens sanctions. Europe should unilaterally exploit the €210bn ($220bn) of Russian cash frozen in European banks. That would pay for Ukraine to fight on or rearm as American funds dwindle. In the medium term a huge defence mobilisation is needed. If Europe cannot rely on America, it must have its own heavy-lift aircraft, logistics, surveillance: the lot. Talks must start on how Britain and France can use their nuclear weapons to shield the continent. All this will cost a fortune. Defence spending will need to rise to the 4-5% of gdp that was normal during the cold war. Higher defence outlays, particularly if some are spent on American weapons, may persuade Mr Trump to stay in NATO, but the assumption now must be that American support is not guaranteed. Paying for this rearmament will take a fiscal revolution. The new target will require extra spending of upwards of €300bn a year. Some of this must come from issuing more common and individual debt. In order to bear that, Europe will have to cut welfare: Angela Merkel, Germany’s former chancellor, used to say that Europe accounted for 7% of the world’s population, 25% of its GDP but 50% of its social spending. To raise growth, Europe must press ahead with obvious but endlessly delayed reforms, from unifying capital markets to deregulation.
Faktat ovat tässä:
- Tässä maailman ajassa Suomi on riippuvainen muusta Euroopasta turvallisuutensa takia.
- Verrattuna muihin suuriin valtoihin, Eurooppa on parempi kansalaistensa vapauden ja hyvinvoinnin kannalta. Myös siltä kannalta se on parempi, että Eurooppa ei enää sorra oleellisesti muita maita niin kuin muut suuret vallat. Ja vaikka ei olisikaan parempi, vaan USA olisi, me emme voi maana liittyä USA:han, koska Trump on suunnitellut meidät jo liitettäväksi Venäjän etupiiriin.
- Yhdessä pitää tehdä Euroopasta vahvempi. Pitää yhdessä vahvistaa taloutta, puolustusta ja sosiaalista koheesiota. Detaleista voi olla eri mieltä. Rajamaat Ukraina, Suomi, Baltia, Puola voivat osoittaa mallia Sisä-Euroopalle.
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