Mark Leonard's World in 30 Minutes Mobilising Europe: The case for a European Preparedness Act
May 30, 2025
Tiago Antunes, an ECFR senior fellow and former Portuguese official, teams up with Nicu Popescu, a distinguished policy fellow and former Moldovan deputy prime minister. They delve into the proposed European Preparedness Act, inspired by the US Defense Production Act, aiming to enhance the EU's crisis response capabilities. The discussion also highlights the challenges of energy resilience in Moldova and Ukraine, and the necessity for stronger collaboration among EU member states. Literary insights on diplomacy add an engaging twist to their conversation.
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EU Needs Extraordinary Crisis Powers
- The EU faces an 'age of unpeace' needing extraordinary mechanisms for rapid crisis response.
- Current EU emergency tools are fragmented and not robust enough for today's security challenges.
EU Unity Beats Fragmentation
- National crisis initiatives are fragmented, risking EU exposure in cross-border shocks.
- A unified EU response strengthens resilience when one member state faces attacks or economic shocks.
Spain’s Blackout Reveals EU Gaps
- Spain's blackout exemplified how national urgency may not be shared by neighbors delaying critical energy projects.
- The EU must act quickly across borders and repurpose funding for emerging urgent needs like shell production.
