20:51 15 September 2020
‘It's time for the EU's strategic autonomy’: Alexander Stubb
The long-term goal of the EU should be to make the euro the most important currency in the world. So that the range of impacts of traditional European instruments, which were previously considered soft power, could be used as hard power, said in an interview with EURACTIV Italia Alexander Stubb, former Prime Minister of Finland and director of the School of Transnational Governance at the European University Institute (EUI) in Florence .
In his opinion, strategic autonomy should be pursued first.
"By strategic autonomy I do not mean protectionism or anything like that. I mean the more strategic thinking of the EU as such. The second is trade and trade instruments. I am convinced that the EU has followed the right path in concluding trade agreements with individual countries," Stubb stressed.
In his opinion, regulatory policy and the need to make the common currency the most important currency in the world are also important.
"The euro area needs more independence so that we do not depend on American exchange rate systems. I am not saying this as an opponent of America. On the contrary, I see myself as an advocate of strengthening transatlantic relations. But it is in Europe's interest to be more independent in this field as well, because all The issues that I have listed can increase the EU's economic potential in the world," he said.
