This paper was first presented at a lectio magistralis on 25 March 2025 in Prof. Italo Colantone's “EU Economics and Politics" course at Bocconi University. The implosion of the Soviet Union, the end of communism, the reunification of Germany and the accelerating pace of globalisation once fuelled a belief in the universal spread of Western values of human rights, freedom and democracy.
However, this project has been increasingly challenged by recent social, economic and political developments. Major crises - including the Great Recession of 2008, the Covid-19 pandemic, and Russian aggression against Ukraine - have reignited power rivalries on the international stage. In addition, the harsh effects of austerity measures in the EU have undermined the trust of many citizens in the European integration project. In this complex context, the need for strategic autonomy has become urgent. Threats to peace and security in Europe, combined with commercial, technological, energy and climate challenges, compel the EU to assume greater responsibility and strengthen its ability to compete on the global stage - while upholding its core values of freedom and human dignity. In this perspective, enhanced cooperation between Member States is key: a further strengthening of Italian-German relations would thus mark a turning point for European integration, enabling the EU to play a stronger role on the world stage.

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