Europe's new power fantasies and the financing question

It was a bit strange after all. When Ursula von der Leyen suddenly started talking about a European Security Council in her State of the Union speech, many journalists and other EU observers gave in to new power fantasies. Although no one knows what exactly the Commission President has in mind, they began to dream: an EU like the UN! An EU like – NATO!

Those who need to know, however, rolled their eyes: another new instrument, another new mechanism, another committee that needs to be taken into account. If only you could work with what already exists.

The political skirmish can be transferred almost exactly to finances. The EU member states are currently struggling over the new multiannual financial framework (MFF), the budget for the years after 2027. Here too, the answer to every new challenge is: more money. More money for defense, competitiveness, climate protection, migration and support for Ukraine. It's just too rarely said which tasks should be put aside.