EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH EMMANUEL MACRON As it faces a critical moment of truth, is Europe finally developing its own strategy? Without losing sight of its hopes and ambitions in terms of green and digital transition, energy autonomy, space and maritime conquest, research and innovation, the European Union has changed a great deal in the last five years — in the wake of the health crisis, and now with war at its borders — and it is beginning to shape its own geopolitical posture. Questions involving European sovereignty, defence and the definition of a common position vis-à-vis other world powers, in particular the United States and China, are leading to responses that are moving in the right direction. By linking its future to that of Ukraine, the Union is meeting the security and strategic challenges facing our continent, while ensuring respect for fundamental rights and its duty of solidarity. By adapting its agricultural, budgetary, financial and trade instruments, it acknowledges the constant need to stimulate growth. In this election year 2024, with a new balance among the 720 seats in the European Parliament, and the appointment of a new Commission, a great deal of hope is being placed on the European Union. As it focuses on the major issues shaping the future of Europe, the Schuman Report on Europe, the State of the Union 2024 not only brings together eminent figures from the world of politics, foremost among them the President of the French Republic, the President of the European Commission and the President of the European Parliament, it also gives the floor to key players in business, research and diplomacy. Throughout the book, they share their analyses and visions of the added value that the European Union provides. With the support of original maps and annotated statistical data, this book is an essential tool for understanding the multidimensional challenges facing Europe today. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Pascale Joannin is managing director of the Robert Schuman Foundation

The Schuman Report on Europe, the State of the Union 2021, a reference work for European decision-makers, offers its readers a review of these achievements and the new forms of solidarity, focusing closely on the profound political and economic changes that are now underway. An entire section is devoted to Europe's role in the world. The book also features original maps that summarise essential European and global issues, as well as a unique set of commented statistics, useful in gauging the Union’s strengths and weaknesses. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Pascale Joannin is managing director of the Schuman Fondation.

One year after war irrupted on the continent once more, the European Union has shown remarkable resilience: the adoption of sanctions against Russia, the financial, humanitarian and military support given to Ukraine and the diversification of its energy supply sources have confirmed, once again, that Europe is increasingly adept at responding to crises. Of course, it is too early to claim victory. Its room for manoeuvre remains limited and its responses must take account of the mistakes of previous decades that have now been highlighted by the reality of the present situation: a lack of investment in its collective defence, a certain naivety in the choice of its dependencies and an excessive faith in the positive political effects of free trade. And yet the European Union's ability to implement effective coordinated responses and its determination to fight for the freedom of a country under attack has been unwavering, to the extent that the followers of a noxious "every-man-for-himself" attitude have been won over, making it even more attractive for others to join this ambitious project. Faced with a succession of unprecedented shocks worldwide and caught in the stand-off between America and China, the European model of economic growth, despite the disruptive impact of inflation, is being called upon to renew itself, with a view to strategic autonomy. This is why the Schuman Report on Europe - the State of the Union 2023 is an essential guide. Through its original analyses of the risks posed and opportunities presented by this crucial moment it constitutes a compass for navigating the complex reality which the European Union now faces. With a wealth of new maps and a unique set of commented statistics, it guides readers who want to understand the main issues at stake, likewise those wishing to contribute to reflection on the construction of tomorrow's Europe. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Managing Director of the Robert Schuman Foundation, former auditor of the 56th national session of the Institute of Higher National Defence Studies (IHEDN), Pascale Joannin is the editor of the Schuman Report on Europe, the State of the Union, Marie B Editions, and co-editor of the Permanent Atlas of the European Union, Marie B Editions (5th edition), 2021. She is the author of L'Europe, une chance pour la femme, a Robert Schuman Foundation Note, n° 22, 2004. She has published numerous studies on European issues.

The war in Ukraine has added another crisis to the impressive string of difficulties that the European Union has faced in recent years. After the financial crisis, then the pandemic, it now faces a new challenge of a magnitude not seen since 1950: the return of war to the continent. The European Union's resilience has greatly improved. It has coped with the virus and, thanks to the pooling of its resources, and it has become the world's leading producer of vaccines. It has been able to manage the unprecedented consequences of an unpredictable situation as best it could. Since it was not in a position to confront Russia's military aggression on its own, the European Union has taken up its full place in the Atlantic Alliance; it has shown solidarity, responded quickly and shown a united front. From now on, in all situations, there will be European action, a common or at least concerted policy. Europe is on the move, for the long term and, in all likelihood, for ever. It makes progress as difficulties arise, but also as its requirements and values change. This is why the Schuman Report on Europe - the State of the Union 2022 is so useful. Over and above the current situation, it helps us to assess the effectiveness of the common policies that are now permanent and the fundamental changes in its governance and its practices. It is, more than ever, a relevant and indispensable tool for understanding the reality of European integration, its progress and its hesitations. Complete with original maps and a unique set of commented statistics, it provides a unique and practical tool for the analysis of Europe for as wide an audience as possible. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Managing Director of the Robert Schuman Foundation. A former auditor of the 56th national session of the Institute of Higher National Defence Studies (IHEDN), Pascale Joannin is the director of the Schuman Report on Europe, the state of the Union, published by Marie B, and co-editor of the Permanent Atlas of the European Union, published by Marie B (5th edition), 2021. She is the author of L'Europe, une chance pour la femme, Note de la Fondation Robert Schuman, n° 22, 2004. She has published numerous studies on European issues.

The Schuman Report 2020 on the State of the Union offers a complete panorama of the European Union. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Pascale Joannin is managing director of the Schuman Fondation.

A complete review of the European Union. Europeans are facing major challenges. From the risk of populist contagion and Brexit at internal level, to migratory issues and the questioning of their values, as well as their interests, from the external points of view, Europeans must fi nd their place in a world in which only Union will bring strength. These challenges imply the Europeans’ ability to stand as one against the turmoil they face. In a situation like this how should their expectations be met, notably in terms of security as well as economic and social protection ? In his speech at the Sorbonne French President Emmanuel Macron, put forward a new European policy. He wants to turn European integration into a tool for sovereignty, both from the economic and geopolitical points of view, with the aim of giving Europeans total freedom and a true feeling of pride. Undeniably, France is back in Europe. European integration has freed the States and people of Europe of their permanent power struggles ; it now has to protect them from external constraints. The question is now to know how this should be achieved. This is the question at the heart of the 9th Schuman Report. Delve into this reference work regarding European Affairs! EXTRACT If we want to protect our European values, our freedom, peace and prosperity, we must be more ambitious. We need more of the spirit of Alcide de Gasperi, of Aldo Moro and of Helmut Kohl in today’s Europe. In 1946 Konrad Adenauer dreamt of a community of European people in which “every population will provide its own irreplaceable, unique contribution to the economy and to European culture, thought, poetry and Western creativity”. Let us work together as Christian Democrats in Europe to make this dream come true. Let us stand up and join our forces to preserve our European way of life. ABOUT THE AUTORS The Schuman report on Europe is a collective publication, edited by Thierry Chopin, a french political analyst specialist in Europe Union, and Michel Foucher, a diplomat, geographer and essayist. The most respected personalities, as well as the best experts have chosen to express their opinion in this publication: Gérard Larcher, Mikuláš Dzurinda, 5 Members of European Parliament, Jean-Claude Piris, Joachim Bitterlich...