The neglected issue that will define Europe’s future

DIJON – Among all the big tests facing the European Union (EU) at the close of 2023, the most important will get the least attention. With European leaders working towards an agreement on new fiscal rules governing member-state budgets, nothing less than the sustainability of Europe’s monetary union is at stake.

Compared to this dry matter, other major issues on the agenda at this month’s EU Summit (Dec 14-15) will understandably seem more pressing. Senior officials in the EU, the United States and Ukraine are warning that Ukraine’s ability to continue defending itself against Russia may be jeopardised if European governments and the US Congress fail to approve new military-aid packages by the end of the year.

While a Ukrainian defeat would erode the EU’s credibility and potentially jeopardise its security, European leaders also must address threats from within.