Let's go children of Europe
(B2) In a letter sent to all the leaders, before the European summit in Malta (then in Rome), Donald Tusk indulged in a certain lyricism. In remarks that are more like an open letter than a confidential missive, the President of the European Council calls on Europeans to pull themselves together: “ United we will overcome, divided we will fail he says at the top of his letter.
The disintegration of Europe will not return an inch of sovereignty to the States
« We must be perfectly clear: the disintegration of the European Union will not restore to its Member States full, somewhat mythical sovereignty; in reality, it will de facto subjugate them to the great superpowers of the United States, Russia and China. Only together can we be independent. »
Become more assertive on the inside
The EU's response to the new global balances must be " assertive and spectacular ". " What Europeans need is courage, determination and political solidarity, otherwise we will not survive. Show our European pride claims the Pole. He calls on Europeans to take strong and resounding measures ».
“In today's world, where nation-continents have hundreds of millions of inhabitants, the European countries taken in isolation are of little consequence. But the EU has an economic and demographic potential which makes it the equal of the greatest powers. This is why, from Rome, the 27 must send the essential signal of their desire to be united. A signal proclaiming that it is not only a question of having to be united, but of wanting it. »
The American incapacity obliges to rethink the relations Europe - World
Donald Tusk - whose transatlantic feeling cannot be doubted - does not hide his trouble with the "disturbing" declarations of the new American administration under Donald Trump, which weigh on the future.
« For the first time in our history, in an increasingly multipolar world, so many people are becoming openly anti-European, or at best Eurosceptic. In particular the change in Washington puts the European Union in a difficult situation. »
He thus suggests"using the change in US trade policy to the advantage of the EU" to boost trade with other countries.
To be respected outside
If the EU remains deaf to " against the EU and our future", "our partners in the world will stop respecting us ". Tusk refuses that "theEurope and its leaders are bowing their backs to the external powers and their leaders”. “Objectively, there is no reason for that, he insists. " Today, we must unambiguously defend our dignity, the dignity of a united Europe, whether our interlocutor is Russia, China, the United States or Turkey. »
Have the courage to oppose the demagogues
“Let us therefore have the courage to be proud of what we have achieved, which makes our continent the best place in the world. Let us have the courage to oppose the rhetoric of the demagogues who claim that European integration only benefits the elites, that the little people have only suffered and that the countries will do better alone than together . »
Download the letter by Donald Tusk (English)
