Towards a New Paradigm in Open Strategic Autonomy?

The aim of this research paper is to review the recent emergence on the European scene of the concept of open strategic autonomy and the consequences it may have for EU action. Originally stemming from the language of the common foreign and security policy (CFSP) and the common security and defence policy (CSDP), strategic autonomy now seems to have become the EU’s new catchphrase. Charles Michel dubbed it Goal No. 1 for our generation: ‘For now, much of the debate on strategic autonomy has been on semantics, marking clear political divides between countries that see this as a threat to Europe’s openness, and its proponents who see a chance to advance European industry and help foster “champions” able to compete on a global scale.’ The concept was endorsed by the European Council of 1 and 2 October 2020. It was referenced at the European Council of 26 March 2021. It has the full attention of the Portuguese Presidency, which devoted an informal meeting of the Competitiveness Council to this on 22 March 2021. At the same time, the green and digital transition, the resilience of the EU’s socioeconomic model in the context of the pandemic and the recovery of the economies of the Twenty-Seven are taking up a great deal of space on the Union’s agenda. By 30 April 2021, each Member State has to submit its national recovery plan with two targets: devoting 37% of this budget to greening and 20% to digital. By 2030, the EU, for its part, has to reduce its CO2 emissions by 55%. Are these goals sustainable over a medium-term timeline (2030)? Is strategic autonomy the launch pad for a new European Union paradigm? Given the huge challenge of changing its underlying model to bring its policies into line with these ambitions, the EU will need to tackle the numerous forms of inertia and resistance that it faces. What should be the strategy to be developed by the EU and its Member States to achieve this? Are they capable of doing so, and do they have the political will? This study raises the question and suggests some lines of thought. It remains for the EU to take the initiative to bring these requirements to multilateral level. Let us hope that the current negotiations can have some effect on developments in the EU and the world