Member States’ Momentum to Make Europe a Stronger Global Actor?

Summary:

Jean-Claude Juncker defined making Europe a stronger global actor as one of his ten working priorities as President of the European Commission. Considering Europe mainly as a 'soft power' in security and defence issues, Juncker highlighted that 'even the strongest soft powers cannot make do in the long run without at least some integrated defence capacities'. It can only be delivered by member states themselves and their ability to bridge divides that continue to exist in Europe.