Europe. A stronger, smaller, but enlargeable core

Brexit, the election of Donald Trump and the rise of populist, nationalist and autarkic forces may perhaps paradoxically give a stimulating lash to the European integration process. Such integration is strongly required by the developments taking place in the World, characterised by the rise of China, the renewed assertiveness of Russia and the unpredictable policies of the new American Administratio. The three major founder members, together with the European Institutions and other countries in the Eurozone who want to join them, should launch a strong initiative focused on the gradual building up of a common management of a number of common goods in a framework of subsidiarity and differentiated integration. Among them is a common defence based on what has already been put in place since the beginning of the previous decade, linked to a coherent and effective foreign policy.