“Who should I call if I want to talk to Europe?”
The question was famous attributed For the former American secretary of state Henry Kissinger and refers to the historical incapacity of the political entity of Europe to coordinate on a united front in the global arena.
And despite Decades of integration under the European Unionwho speaks for Europe – or what the block wants to be – may be Less clear now than at any time in recent years. Internal Immigration cleavages,, right -wing nationalism,, The invasion of Ukraine by Russia And Donald Trump’s return to the White House All question the concept of what Europe is and should represent.
Friedrich Merz, the next Chancellor expected from Germany, offered a continental vision shortly after his The Conservative Party has triumphed in the country’s national elections. “My absolute priority will be to strengthen Europe as quickly as possible so that, step by step, we can really an independence from the United States“He said.
Merz’s apparent desire for a stronger German role could predict a change of balance towards the pre -eminent place of Germany in the EU, a position from which it has withdrawn in recent years. But there remains an open question on the measure where Europe can be unified given the political mines of the continent – or even the type of Europe it would be.
Filling Merkel shoes
A German leader has, in living memory, managed to provide something approaching a singular European voice that the White House could face. Europe has long been synonymous with Angela Merkel, German, the longtime chancellor – and alone – who was known by affectionate nicknames like “Mutti Merkel“Or” Maman Merkel “and, during the first time of Trump, was even qualified as Facto -world leader in free world.
His heritage – Merkel served from 2005 to 2021 – was partly defined by solid commitments to clean energy,, welcome hundreds of thousands of refugees during the 2015 European migrant crisis And defend German leaders of the European Union. In the process, it has become something “Europe of Europe. “”
Merkel collaborated specially Well with Emmanuel Macron in FranceA European passionate colleague, communicating a vision of a united Europe and its fundamental values to the rest of the world. Nicknamed “Merkron“By commentators, the pair was considered to be the power torque of the EU.
Emmanuele Contini / Nurphoto via Getty Images
Meanwhile, former American president Barack Obama describes Merkel as his nearest allypraising his humanitarian vision of refugee policy and even the decoration She with the Liberty MedalThe highest distinction that the United States can attribute to a foreign national.
Merkel was also visionary, especially with regard to the former superpowers of the Cold War and their controversial leaders. A child from Eastern Germany, She has never trusted Vladimir Putin of Russia. She also lived well Difficulties to collaborate with Trump During his first presidency. Somewhat prevailing the recent comments from Merz, Merkel in 2017 warned that neither Germany nor the EU could rely on the United States as they did, exhorting her European colleagues To take their fate and their interests in their hands.
A already seen from “the German question”
But in some respects, Merkel was more popular abroad than at home.
The so-called “German question“- or the German’s inability to unify as a nation in its leadership and”Leitkultur“, Or” guided culture “- torment the country since the 19th century and has acquired renewed relevance during the years German reunification After the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.
Years after the so-called “Merkel miracle», The increasing internal political divisions of Germany – in particular pronounced Between the west and the east of the country – Reflect the wider divisions confronted with the EU as a whole, in particular for those who should claim the coat of political leadership and around what vision.
To find gravity in Europe, she had under Merkel, Germany, would now need a similar type of strong and visionary program that resonates with the continent. The country’s political, economic and social challenges in 2025 require clear national leadership, something that, in my opinion or the The outgoing chancellor unimportant and not charismatic Olaf Scholz nor the right chief of the opposition and Soon the successor Merz has demonstrated in public in the past two years.
Although Merkel and Merz represents the same political party, the CDU, Their visions for Germany and the EU are surprisingly different. A former rich commercial lawyer, the signature book of Merz, “Dare more capitalism“Is a plan for a political program which prioritizes the reduction of government intervention, less bureaucracy, lower taxes and pro-market reforms. Merz also wants to strengthen German borders with restrictionist immigration policyA reflection of the way in which the country has moved far to the right on the question in the middle of the climb of the extreme right Alternative for Germany (AFD)with that Merz sometimes flirted.
However, in the relatively different agenda of Merz, he recommends in the same way for Europe and NATO, and Wishes to do Germany in the power it was in the Merkel years and making Europe want again.
Ian Langsdon / AFP via Getty Images
A changing design of Europe?
Given the current attitude of “America first” of the Trump administration and the climb Far -right populism through the EU and the worldIt is stimulating – some would say alarming – that Trump declared the results of an election which experienced strong gains for the extreme right – propelling it in second place – like a “Big day for Germany. “”
That it is great for Europe depends on the vision of the continent that we have in mind. Merz, although more right than Merkel, nevertheless pleaded for a strong Europe, led by Germany, which could promote a Europe independent of American influence, seeming to follow the stages of the former French president Charles de Gaullewho sought Clip Europe of American domination.
During his recent speech at the Munich security conference, US vice-president JD Vance warned against a “threat from the European interior”, the continental governments disparaging for their retirement “Fundamental values, values shared with the United States of America,” while Defend extreme right populism and policies On the continent. Elon Musk subsequently published on his social platform X: “Make Europe great again! Mega, Mega, Mega!
Despite the perplexity and dismay expressed by European leaders in such declarations, the tormented and divided Europe of today can hardly claim that it is an environment without problem, or that many leaders of the continent do not also support such a policy.
The rise of populism and nationalism through Europe poses a huge problem for what could be described without ceremonies as “Old Europe», Especially now, when it is apparently derive from its old ally and protectiveThe United States.
With Russian influence and growing authoritarian policy Central Europe – especially in Hungary and Slovakia – and ultra -nationalist and extreme right ideas also strong Austria,, Germany,, France And elsewhere, Europe today is hardly a unified political, economic and cultural totality.
In Italy, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s right -wing political chameleonismcombined with her Defense and praise of Musk and Trumpis also a problem for those looking for a unified Europe to the political center.
Don’t keep me suspended, please!
Less than a year ago, the French Macron, the still passing European, marked a Dark note suggesting: “We must be clear about the fact that our Europe, today, is fatal. … He can die, and it depends entirely on our choices. »»
Jack Robinson / Condé Nast via Getty Images
Among other things, what Macron’s warning points to is the unresolved question of what the European block wishes to be. As long as the answer to this question remains uncertain, Kissinger’s question could be reformulated for: “Is there even a Europe to call?”
And, given the emerging hostility of the Trump administration to a multitude of EU policies, including on the war in Ukraine, foreign aid, regulation and trade, there is another disturbing interpretation for EU leaders, even if there was “a Europe to call”: Washington would take the trouble to win the phone?