In face of the threats of President- elect Donald Trump to diminish the US role regarding the collective defence of Europe the main European players should strengthen their cooperation in defence matters and France, the United Kingdom and Germany could conclude agreements to initiate a European integration in defence, Jean- Dominique Giuliani, President of the Robert Schuman Foundation, has said.

In an exclusive interview with Albanian Daily News, Mr. Giuliani said that the Brexit has had the merit of making European leaders fully aware of the fact that European integration cannot be considered as an acquis. Further on he pointed out that there is not right to have an influence sphere for Russia within the EU, but, however, according to him, “we need to improve a dialogue with a Russia Russia if it respects the will of the people and the independence of its neighbors.”

Mr. Giuliani is of the opinion that Turkey seems to move away from the European values and practices. “And when I say “Turkey”, I do not point the Turkish people but the Turkish government. It is a pity. But I do not think this could be changed in a reasonable period of time. Therefore, it is essential to keep on with having a strategic dialogue with this country,” said Robert Schuman Foundation’s President.

Speaking of Western Balkan countries’ drive to join EU, Mr. Giuliani said the current EC President, Jean-Claude Juncker, had made it clear that there would be no further enlargement during his mandate because those countries had to be ready. “Right now, it is not the case. They are welcome but some progress has to be made before,” Mr. Giuliani said in the following interview insisting that no country in that region would be privileged:

- Mr. Giuliani I have read your article entitled “Europe's necessary strategic autonomy”, which was also published recently by Albanian Daily News, and it seems to me that you have sounded the alarm bell with regards to the cohesion of the European Union. Which are some of your concerns in this respect?

- Over the last decade, there has been a rise in extremism and populism. This phenomenon has thriven on the profound changes that our European societies are undergoing with globalization, technological developments and mass information, but also on the inability of politicians to propose effective solutions. The main concern is the nationalist withdrawal reflected in this extreme trend which is the opposite of the European project, which is based on cooperation and solidarity. This withdrawal weakens the cohesion of the European Union and engenders other risks, rooted on European memories. Those risks channel a possible opposition among European people, which could lead to a growing insecurity within the continent, whereas the European construction aimed at establishing peace and security. The EU’s credibility on the international stage is also at stake as, despite significant progress, it is still struggling to speak unanimously.

However, unlike a common preconception, the EU does not need to be re-founded (I believe the foundations are stable). Genuine voluntary policies will go through a better involvement of Member States. The priority is to resolve the migration crisis because it is the main factor of the increasing of populism.

- How has the Brexit influenced the current state of things in the EU where, as you say, domestic agendas seem to have gained the upper hand over all other considerations?

- The Brexit has had the merit of making European leaders fully aware of the fact that European integration cannot be considered as an acquis. The European agenda was heavily impacted by the first European Councils at 27 (not 28) and by several declarations of preeminent leaders claiming to take advantage of Brexit to strengthen integration and cooperation, mainly in the field of security and defense.

Nobody is able to say how the Brexit will unfold, what the consequences will be. I am quite sure unfortunately that it will impoverish the British economy. But at the same time we discovered that other member states and people are really willing to stay within the EU.

2017 will be marked by many electoral deadlines that will complicate new European initiative when European countries have to send a strong political message by intensifying their cooperation on several issues.

- Do you think that there will be a different position of the United States under the new President, Donald Trump towards Europe? How are the main EU actors behaving?

- Donald Trump should implement isolationist and protective policies. He threatened to diminish the role of the US regarding the collective defence of Europe.

This turning point should be an opportunity for the main European players to strengthen their cooperation in defence matters. France, the United Kingdom and Germany could conclude agreements to initiate a European integration in defence which requires first and foremost an increase in defence budgets. These states must initiate new policies and projects by incorporating other European states on a voluntary basis. It is clear that in the security field, there must be a strong involvement of some leading states and effective cooperation in defence matters.

- How real, according to you, is the concern of some European countries, especially of those neighbouring Russia, about a military threat by the latter?

- Europe must be firm on this principle: there is not right to have an influence sphere for Russia within the EU. The soviet history, which has been a terrible period for so many people and countries in Europe, cannot be forgotten. But at the same time, we need to improve a dialogue with a Russia if it respects the will of the people and the independence of its neighbours, because we have a common interest in stabilizing the continent on a peaceful way.

- You hold that the Atlantic alliance is a necessary, useful community of values, but this does not dispense its European members from assuming their own responsibilities. Do you think that NATO does not play anymore the role it used to play in the past with regards to its member countries? Are there signs that some countries are disillusioned by the Alliance? For example, Turkey.

- NATO is very useful to implement common work on the military issues and procedure. But it has to be managed first by European countries which accept to spend more for their security.

I do believe that the Europeans are disillusioned by Turkey! And NATO too. Turkey seems to move away from the European values and practices. And when I say “Turkey”, I do not point the Turkish people but the Turkish government. It is a pity. But I do not think this could be changed in a reasonable period of time. Therefore, it is essential to keep on with having a strategic dialogue with this country.

- Do you think that the latest enlargement of the EU has not been 'healthy' to the block, and in addition do you think that new aspirant countries like those of the Western Balkans, including Albania, have fewer accession opportunities in the light of what you said above? And secondly, how come that Serbia, a staunch ally of Russia, seems to be treated more amicably than other aspirant countries which see without reservations Brussels as their final destination?

- The European Commission underlined on several occasions that Western Balkan countries are able to integrate in the EU. Nevertheless, the current President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, made clear that there will be no further enlargement during his mandate because they have to be ready. Right now, it is not the case. They are welcome but some progress has to be made before. No country will be privileged. Every Balkan country is welcome if it accepts the European political spirit and the EU rules.

- Mr. Giuliani do you think that the creation of associations like the Visegrad Group seem to be like a kind of ‘shield’ of its four member countries to unite in face of the apparent decline of solidarity among the Member States of EU?

- The Visegrad group opposed some important European countries as well as European institutions during the migratory crisis. That’s bad news, because their demographic situation is very worrying. Instead of exporting people, they have to fix on their territories people necessary to prosper their countries. More generally I am definitely against every “micro-club” within the EU that it weakens. If this kind of association is used to make some particular “lobbying” against common policies, it weakens the European solidarity and cooperation between the member States as a whole.

- How much seriously should your warning be taken when you say that if there is no real shared belief that Europe must think of itself as an independent power that stands as one, then no one should be surprised if some Member States like France act alone or alongside a few others?

- The EU and its member states must consider themselves as an independent power for several reasons. Firstly, the EU is essential to the survival of nation-states in a globalized world where small European nation-states will progressively be economically and politically overcome by “continental States”. If these states wish to weigh on the international order, they must realize that they should improve EU’s strategic autonomy for this last to become a global political and military power.

Secondly, due to the American uncertainty about NATO and the numerous threats to Europe, it is only by becoming a real autonomous power that the EU can carry on with its construction.

Europe has actually all the tools to become an independent power (the United Kingdom and France have nuclear power and powerful military armed forces; the EU is the world's leading economic power; through a better cooperation, its diplomatic network has the capacity to become one of the most effective and efficient in the world). Therefore, European governments must realize that the solutions to their problems can only be achieved through a united, independent and cooperative Europe.