A return flight from Paris, same day, on a rainy day. But he wanted to be in Trento to participate in the Targetti Lecture, the traditional event with which the School of International Studies officially opens its academic activities every year and honors the memory of Ferdinando Targetti, first director of the Center. Arancha Gonzalez Laya is dean of the Paris School of International Affairs (PSIA) at Sciences Po. She was welcomed in a conference room of the Department of Economics and Management full of students who followed her speech carefully and participated with numerous questions and reflections. A passionate, lucid, concrete lesson on the future of Europe. In this historical moment characterized by financial, political and social fragmentation, this is his analysis, the European Union must find within itself the ability to respond to challenges and show itself competitive in the key sectors of energy, economy, technology and defense . UniTrentoMag interviewed her on the sidelines of the meeting.
Director Gonzalez Laya, the European Union, as underlined in her speech, is experiencing a period of strong geopolitical tensions, economic volatility and social fragmentation. Today we are witnessing the advance of nationalism, of right-wing parties even in those countries that founded the European Union. In your opinion, does the dream of a united Europe still exist and resist? Is European democracy at risk?
Europe itself is at risk, which today finds itself at a crossroads. There are two possibilities: either the European Union remains where it is, and then it will not be able to have the ability to influence the world, or it must take steps forward towards its integration. Only she will be able to decide her future, otherwise China or the United States will do it for her.
You said, recalling the US elections in November, that Trump is not the problem and Harris is not the answer to the problems the world is experiencing. The solution lies within Europe. But if Trump were to win, important geopolitical aspects would be reshaped and the attitude towards the Russian-Ukrainian conflict and that in the Middle East would also change. What scenarios could unfold after the American vote?
The question, for Europeans, is to understand what if we are more united, we are also stronger and we can have a weight in the world. It is clear that if the American choice were to be for Donald Trump it will be more difficult for us because he is hostile to the European Union and in his previous mandate tried to weaken it. To be cohesive and be ready, Europe must work on two fronts. The first is the economy. Trump has already said he wants to raise taxes on imports from around the world. We need to make him understand that if he does it, we will do it too. But we would all emerge weakened. The second is Ukraine. Our future is linked to this country. If it loses against Russia, it is the European Union that loses. we must do everything we can to help Ukraine be as strong as possible in negotiations with Russia.
He also spoke about the need to strengthen the European defense system. This is also done by increasing military spending. How can we convince those who say that this is not the solution to the end of the war?
The European Union is a peace project. We must not turn it into a war project. But we must also be clear-headed and see that today war has returned to the European continent. We don’t like it, but it’s reality. In the past, since there was no war and since we are within NATO, little was invested in our defense capacity. But today the situation has changed. Trump has said it is not in his interest to remain in NATO. The European Union must be ready to defend its peace project by strengthening its military capabilities. This means strengthening the European pillar in NATO, building a single market for defense equipment in Europe, deciding, all 27 member states together, how to invest for our protection.
Another challenge that he mentioned in his speech is that relating to climate change. There are political forces today, the ones we were talking about at the beginning, that cannot be defined as climate-friendly. What can Europe do on this front?
I believe that young people in Europe are giving a very clear message. The choices we make today are the choices they will experience tomorrow and the day after. And they say that this is not good, that we must make investments to reduce CO2 emissions, that to do so we must follow an economic model of green industries. Sustainability is not contrary to competitiveness and developmentOn the contrary. It’s a way to be even more competitive.
Speaking of young people, you mentioned the strong demographic decline we have in Europe. And this connects to the topic of migration, which is needed. Instead, some governments return to talking about walls and borders. This shatters the European dream.
The average age in Europe is 48, in China and the United States 38. In India 28 and in Africa 19. This is the reality. We cannot afford enchanting answers. We need solutions. Which? One of these is migration. An orderly, regular migration. All countries, such as Italy, Holland, Denmark, Germany, are welcoming migrant people, because they need workers. Saying we don’t need it is a political lie.
What is the role of education in international relations studies? What skills do the students who were here to listen to you today need?
The role of academic institutions is important in helping these young people to do two things. The first is to know our history, economy, demographics, what are the forces that move our world today. The second is also learning to manage it. A university like that of Trento is preparing boys and girls to enter the job market, to be managers of companies, international organizations and public administrations. Their skills will be highly appreciated because they know how to read the world and are able to propose solutions to respond to great challenges.
Are diplomacy and international cooperation currently at risk of losing their centrality in political confrontation?
Yes. Diplomacy today is devalued. But when there is a problem, at an international or national level, there needs to be spaces where people can speak. And we must protect them. The university itself is a place where people from other countries, from different political parties, from different religions, can meet. They are precious places, in a world that is creating fractures and fragmentations.
