Foto: BB.LV / Европарламент
The European Union lacks the economic power to act on the international stage as a unified superpower. The main obstacle remains the absence of a coordinated approach to foreign policy and security issues, said Rosa Balfour, director of the Carnegie Europe analytical center, in an interview with LETA. According to her, European countries are still too fragmented in their perception of international threats and strategic priorities. Without overcoming these differences, the EU will find it difficult to act as a single global player. "As the EU is a trading superpower with enormous regulatory power, any representative of EU institutions will say that we must compete with the USA and China, strive to become a third pole, and act as a single bloc," Balfour noted. However, the expert emphasized that the mere aspiration of European institutions is not enough. "If some Europeans seek to turn the EU into a superpower, it is primarily necessary to unite their own citizens. This cannot be achieved solely from the top," she stated. ## The European Union Should Not Try to Become a Regular State Balfour reminded that the EU represents a unique form of political integration that was not originally created in the image of a traditional state. Therefore, attempts to view the European Union as a single state with centralized power and institutions do not fully correspond to its nature. At the same time, this does not mean that the EU is incapable of playing a more prominent role in global politics. According to the director of Carnegie Europe, the European Union still has significant opportunities to enhance its international influence—primarily through trade, regulation, and diplomacy. "The EU can definitely use its trading influence more effectively. Moreover, the EU can better utilize its diplomacy," Balfour noted. She acknowledged that the EU's capabilities in the area of external security are more limited; however, she believes that the union has other tools to strengthen its international positions. ## Europe's Diversity Can Be Its Advantage One of the underestimated advantages of the EU, Balfour mentioned, is the diverse historical experiences and international connections of its member states. As an example, she cited Europe's response to events in Ukraine. According to the expert, the Baltic states, Poland, and Finland play a particularly important role in understanding the Kremlin's mindset and shaping the European position. At the same time, in other regions of the world, the knowledge and connections of entirely different European states may prove to be the most useful. Thus, in the event of a crisis in Latin America, the experience of Spain, Portugal, and Italy would be particularly significant, while addressing issues related to Africa would benefit from the insights of France and other countries with a deep understanding of the region. Therefore, the differences between European states can not only complicate the adoption of common decisions but also expand the EU's diplomatic opportunities. "Right now, newspapers are writing a lot about various disagreements among Europeans. However, there is also a deep understanding of the rest of the world that can help Europe shape a unique model of global interaction," Balfour emphasized. ## The Main Problem Is the Lack of a Common Strategic View In the expert's opinion, European countries need to learn to better understand how their EU partners perceive the international situation. Geographic location, historical experience, and relations with neighboring states influence each country's perceptions of threats and priorities. It is precisely the lack of such mutual understanding, Balfour believes, that has long hindered the European Union from developing a unified strategy on the international stage. At the same time, the responsibility for overcoming disagreements, she said, lies with all member states, not just the largest countries or the leadership of European institutions. "We can do much more to understand how others see the world, how it is perceived by other European partners," said the director of Carnegie Europe. She is convinced that strengthening internal unity and more effectively utilizing the diverse experiences of member states can help the EU develop its own model of global influence—without the need to become a traditional superpower like the USA or China.
