Speech in the plenary debate on the relations between the USA and the European Union
Mr President, my dear colleagues, not so long ago, under the previous mandate, the two words “European defence” were taboo. Not so long ago, the words “strategic autonomy” were simply unknown in this House. Today we are adopting a report in which it is said that “the European Union must pursue strategic autonomy in the field of defence and economic relations” and that “the Atlantic Alliance must become an alliance among equal partners”.
So let us measure how far we have come. Let us realise that there is a real epistemological break in the history of the European Union and that we are currently experiencing it. After the speech by the President of the Commission, this report marks the opening of the first year of European defence, which is absolutely necessary and which is the first stage in the affirmation of a European player on the international stage.
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