With Trump or whatever Ghoul that comes after him in the Republican party looming, it is crucial for the EU to gain strategic independence.
While there were some impulses during Trumps first presidency it seems things had slowed down during Bidens term. Especially Scholz having blocked Macrons ambitions of an EU army, threw us back on that front.
We have a united economic sector. We need a united defense system and a united foreign policy. This stabilises the EU to the outside and helps growing stronger internally, hopefully reaching an EU, where the current national identity becomes more of a regional identity in political and administrative terms.
I know this ideal got further away over the past years, rather than closer, but i will keep hoping for it as long as the EU exists.
No it hasn't
https://www.icj-cij.org/sites/default/files/case-related/186/186-20240719-adv-01-00-en.pdf