Good evening,
I very much regret I cannot be there with you.
I see Jean Monnet as a great historic example. And you are discussing the most important issue of our time: our security.
Let me start with a very well-known quote by Jean Monnet, which many of you will have on your minds today. Jean Monnet once said: “Europe will be forged in crises, and will be the sum of the solutions adopted for those crises.”
And today we face the greatest security crisis of our lifetimes. A crisis in three parts:
First, Russias war of aggression against Ukraine.
Second, Russias growing war machine and Russias growing threat against peace in Europe.
Third, the shift of the United States towards the Indo-Pacific.
And to deal with this triple crisis, we are acting, and we are acting European:
Right after Russias invasion three years ago: unprecedented European unity and solidarity. Massive support for Ukraine. Massive sanctions against Russia.
And during this last year, we have taken historic decisions. European decisions. To create a “big bang” in defence spending and production. Hundreds of billions will start to come into defence from EU and from national budgets. Till 2030 - more than 2.5 trillion euros for defence. Till 2035 - more than 5 trillion.
Just a few weeks ago, Russia sent nearly 20 drones into Poland. Our response to Russian provocations at our eastern border: European action, the Eastern Flank watch. And as part of that: the Drone Wall to detect and destroy incoming drones.
So as Monnet said: crisis is bringing unity. And action. New solutions are coming. Because of the crisis. Europe is taking responsibility for the defence of Europe.
In the words of Commission President Ursula von der Leyen: This must be Europes Independence moment.
Now comes the next phase: moving from plan to action. Moving from money big bang, to production big bang. Not only spending and producing more, but spending more, spending better and European: joint procurement and buying European products. And producing also in, with and for Ukraine.
When I think of defence production, which we need to have today, I also think of Jean Monnet.
We all know Monnet as a father of the European project. But Jean Monnet was also a father of victory in the Second World War. It was Jean Monnet who first described the United States as the “Arsenal of Democracy”.
Jean Monnet advised President Roosevelt on ramping up industrial production. Monnet helped the Roosevelt administration to prepare the so called “Victory Plan”, which was crucial for the victory of the allies. It was based on the famous “balance sheet” of demand and industrial production, promoted by Jean Monnet.
Battles are won by generals, but wars are won by industry.
To win the military war, the allies first had to win the production war. And they did exactly that. With substantial assistance from the intellectual power of Monnet.
I have a copy of the famous “balance sheet”, drafted by Monnet himself. The “balance sheet” of victory - what is needed for victory and what is needed to be produced.
Today we need our “balance sheet” and our “Victory plan”. And we are preparing it. Inspired by Monnet. It will be called “Roadmap of defence readiness 2030”.
And we need to ensure not only our material defence readiness, but also institutional defence readiness.
And build a European Defence Union. Something like the European Defence Community, an idea which back in 1950s was also promoted by Jean Monnet. Political unity of Europe demanded also defence unity. That is what European leaders, like Adenauer, de Gasperi, Shuman, Monnet at that time understood very well. Pity, that the idea of a Defence Community failed then. If it hadnt, now we would be much stronger.
But we need to take inspiration from that attempt to create a European Defence Community, despite that it once failed. Inspiration to create a new European security architecture, involving also Ukraine.
As I read Jean Monnets memoires, especially the pages related with defence and security, a lot is familiar when I compare, what Monnet was facing during the war and what we are facing now:
The lack of urgency in the very beginning. Low reserves of manpower, of weapons, low levels of capacity, concerns about budgets.
The allies overcame these obstacles. It is now our turn to overcome them. And we will. Not to fight a war. But to deter aggression. To prevent a war.
And thats how the European Union remains true to Monnets dream: a project of peace.
Monnet spoke about Europe, which will be forged in crisis. Its worth also to remember that crisis needs and brings leadership.
History teaches us: in order to overcome crisis - there is a need for effective and intellectual leadership.
History also teaches us - when crisis comes, history and nations bring forward the right leaders, to overcome the crisis.
Thats what happened after the Second World War, when Europe needed to unite to be able to stand against Soviet Union: Adenauer, Schuman, Churchill, Monnet, de Gasperi were political and intellectual leaders, ready to face the challenges of that time. And they got the job done: our Community was born.
Like in Monnets time we need not only military power, industrial power, political power. But also, intellectual power.
The Jean Monnet Foundation is one of the most effective establishments to bring intellectual power back to the political community and to help give us focus.
That is what this security crisis very much needs.
I wish you a very successful conference!
