As the EU27 enter a new politico-institutional cycle for the next five years (2024-2029), the tasks and obstacles ahead look daunting. Yet, the fundamental challenges of the new era should not be taken as an excuse for despair, introspection, inertia, and inaction but function as a rallying call: it is a moral imperative that we do all we can to change potential dismal outcomes for future generations. This will require a higher level of differentiation, led by a group of member states who are ready to move forward ambitiously (particularly in the area of defence), even if this will have to be organised outside the EU treaties while respecting and promoting the supranational nature of the Union.
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