
Decoding Geopolitics Podcast with Dominik Presl #97 Steven Everts: Why Europe Is Stuck in a “Psychology of Weakness” - And How to Get Out
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Dec 13, 2025 In this discussion, Steven Everts, a former EU diplomat and director of the EU Institute for Security Studies, unpacks Europe's 'Psychology of Weakness' and its implications on foreign policy. He critiques the EU's reluctance to engage in diplomacy, emphasizing the need to reclaim agency in negotiations, especially regarding Ukraine. Everts argues for a more assertive European stance against external pressures and outlines practical steps to bolster support for Ukraine, highlighting the importance of unity among member states for effective action.
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Europe Operates From A Position Of Weakness
- Steven Everts argues Europe now operates from a position of weakness, reacting rather than shaping outcomes.
- He warns this undermines Europe's ability to defend its own security and influence major negotiations like Ukraine peace talks.
A 25-Year View From Inside EU Diplomacy
- Everts recounts his 25-year career from think tank to EU diplomatic roles to show long-term change.
- He uses that personal arc to argue Europe has lost self-confidence compared with earlier decades.
Asymmetrical Deals Erode European Leverage
- Everts criticizes an asymmetrical summer trade deal with the U.S. that favored Washington and reduced European leverage.
- He views that deal as illustrative of Europe accepting bad bargains for short-term political comfort.
