By PhD. Constantina Skenteri

Our world is volatile, uncertain, and complex. Future is a mystery of one degree or another. Yet, thoughtful steps can be taken to maintain the joy of a certain unpredictability and to ensure an affluent future by making use of the opportunities and minimizing the risks. 

As time goes by, change per se is the only predictable element. The European Union (EU) has to value each change as it happens, meanwhile preserving the identity of Europe, refreshing peoples memory of traditional institutions that throughout centuries have been the foundation of European countries, as well as rebuilding citizens’ hope and trust in their countries and in the unique EU.

It is worth mentioning that the European civilization is linked to the Greco-Roman civilization. Citizen’s welfare and education, individual responsibility and social responsibility are the basis of the civilization and the areas where the EU should commit and invest more.

The above embodies the main challenge ahead, along with others presented as follows.

1. In an economic world where the trend of “heroic leadership” is already antiquated, the future will be led by cooperations and teams. This is in alignment with the evolution of the European Union partnership where Germany does not represent anymore the only “production machine”, but other major European powers such as France, Italy and Spain exert their own leadership on political, economic, and military matters. Each country can bring its varied role, resources, perspectives, and talent into the European leadership. This type of governance needs primarily imagination, competence and love, love for one’s own  country and for Europe.

2. Some main leadership challenges include: first, being adaptive to a wide variety of circumstances, enhancing policy coherence, reconciling different agenda, different priorities of EU member states and participants from business sector, civil society etc.; second, connecting with one other and earning real commitment among EU member states on the highly ambitious goal to reclaim the leadership of Europe in a global context. 

3. In times of professional labour shortage, there is a need for greater competence at all levels, in areas such as economy, production, sales, exports, networking etc. Europe is losing high skilled workers who strive outside the EU for better salaries and growth opportunities, while it is “gaining” illegal immigration with mainly lower educated and skilled people. At this particular moment, going through a global crisis, it is important to come up with strong motivation systems at the workplace, to drive high performance and retain high calibre labour which result in greater long-term contentment and outcome. People are the greatest wealth of a company, a Nation and of the European Union.

4. The future belongs to the modern advancements where the “rare earths” are the sources of technology of the future, and of the present. Being spoiled with cheap natural gas from Russia, Europe acted decisively to diversify suppliers after the outbreak of war and break the dependency of primary goods from one source. 

5. Regarding the boom in Artificial Intelligence and its central role on the transition towards a digital economy, most European countries are racing to forge ahead in the development and deployment of AI. However, it is important to approach this technology for what it is, a facilitating tool. It is one of the focal functions of the EU to ensure regulatory frameworks on the new technologies and enable moderate use of AI.

6. Producing new technology and modernizing military, enlarging Europe, and creating further alliances could serve the purpose of reestablishing the global leadership of Europe and reinforcing the international authority. The enlargement policy could consider the process whereby the Western Balkans would join the European Union, and Europe could strengthen in terms of geographical territory while providing integration to the Balkans.

7. Finally, building up connections with the farther East and in particular with Japan, South Korea and Australia would be highly beneficial on economic and political terms. These alliances represent an important step forward by the European Union, as it considers with cautious the sight of the world splitting into two main blocks: on one hand the traditional liberal powers Europe and the United States and on the other hand Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa – the BRICS. 

In a nutshell, driving forward the EU is a complex and challenging process requiring diverse, analytical, and progressive measures. It is time to decide whether the EU wants to learn from the mistakes of the past and what is the direction for the future. Infusing a human-centric approach is critical to facilitate economic development, integrate advanced technologies and successfully achieve a vibrant, sustainable, and inclusive future. People are the ones to envision, design, and implement projects for the future. Human-centric fundamentals for Europeans will transcend to the rest of the world.