European strategic autonomy requires shared networks, not national buffers

Recent disruptions across the continent have shown that Europe's deepest economic vulnerabilities often lie hidden behind long-held certainties. As highlighted in El País, relying on static national assurances no longer guarantees security in an unpredictable global economy.

National governments understandably seek immediate control over local energy reserves and critical supply chains when emergencies strike. Retreating behind domestic borders offers a comforting illusion of control and immediate protection against external shocks.

Yet no single European country possesses the scale to build self-sufficient supply chains or isolated digital systems alone. True strategic autonomy is a practical challenge of engineering, requiring shared energy grids, unified capital markets, and cross-border digital networks that distribute risk across the entire continent.

Fragmenting into 27 separate national buffers leaves every member state weaker and more vulnerable to external pressure. Building collective European networks ensures that resilience is shared, turning scale into Europe's strongest asset.

Drafted with AI, edited by the editor.