We probably live the moment of greatest instability and bellicism of the last 80 years. The decades after World War II were marked by the «thirty glorious», a stage of economic growth, public-private investment and prosperity that we have not experienced again with such intensity and geographical extension never again. We build a rules -based multilateral system that promoted globalization, helping millions of people out of poverty. A system that has also had their shadows, but that all actors recognized and, to some extent, respected. What is happening to us? Héctor Abad Faciolince expressed the current feeling in the country scarce weeks ago: «What bothers Trump is not the weakness of Europe, but its greatness, its environmentalism, the defense of beauty, the seductive power of its economic and cultural model.» It is true: Europe has managed to place itself as the old continent of enlightenment, respect for human rights and minorities, the value of culture and the defense of the planet. However, the greatness that he reached in values did not achieve it in influence: his ambition remained halfway as a world geopolitical actor. We trust our main partner's umbrella too. The pandemic response opened a path and learning that we must complete with the design of the new community budget: the Plurianual Financial Framework 2028-2034. A budget, as the European Commission points out, which will be more flexible, comprehensive and that will closely link financing to the political priorities of the Union. We need more coordination, agility and shared strategic vision to deal with challenges: increase our security and reduce dependencies, boost competitiveness and scalability in the single market, reduce regulatory fragmentation and ensure that European savings finances European projects. Without forgetting the protection of the rule of law and democratic values, our hallmark. Individually we will not achieve it. A budget is urgent enough to accompany the transitions underway, supported by greater own resources and in the creation of a true Eurobones market, as Olivier Blanchard and Ángel Ubide have recently defended. The issuance of community debt linked to Nextnerationu placed the Union as a recognizable actor and the unpredictable decisions of the Trump administration are putting the role of the dollar as a safe asset and world reserve currency. A hole that by market size could cover the euro, attracting global private investment towards a Europe that, now, would recover its economic and social dynamism. It is paradoxical, but it is the reality: in this world, Europe is opened. Diego Vizcaíno and Gonzalo López, professors of AFI Global Education.
