EU becoming less significant

The articles that I wrote represent my interests in the fields of politics and social cohesion within the European Union. My opinion articles develop on the idea that Europe will not be a great super power in the future but rather will start declining due to multiple factors. My other articles describe eastern Europe and compare it western European and talks about the accession process for the country of Ukraine. Through these articles I hope to inform people and also hope to make people more aware of the situation within the European Union in regards to different subject areas.

Europe’s decreasing significance in the coming years

 

The European Union has been a central force in global economics and politics, establishing itself as the third-largest economic bloc. However, its global significance is now under threat. A steady decline in manufacturing, shifting geopolitical alliances, and new trade policies are deteriorating the European Union’s influence. With President-elect Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs on European imports and a growing U.S. focus on countering China, the European Union risks becoming a secondary player in global affairs. If these trends continue, the European Union may struggle to maintain its economic strength and strategic importance in the future.

 

The Decline of EU Manufacturing

Countries such as Germany and France were once the heart of industry within the European Union, but their industrial power has been in decline for some time now. This decline, however, is not just limited to Western Europe; Countries such as Poland and the Czech Republic are also experiencing significant declines. According to the European Trade Union Confederation, Poland has lost 278,200 jobs and the Czech Republic has lost 161,400 jobs (European Trade Union Federation, 2024).To prevent further job and investment losses due to the decline of manufacturing, the European Union must take decisive actions in order to revitalize key industrial regions in Europe. This is necessary not just to maintain influence, but to maintain European independence. A too heavy reliance on foreign partners for industrial manufacturing could leave the European Union vulnerable to tariffs and foreign influence.

 

Trade Wars and Tariffs

Donald Trump won the election defeating Kamala Harris in the United States. Donald Trump is a traditional American protectionist threatening to impose tariffs on all imports to protect American businesses from outside competition. China would be hit the hardest with tariffs up to 100 percent if certain demands are unmet, and the EU could face up to 10 percent tariffs on all imports into the US. These tariffs could impact the EU in two ways: a direct tariff on all imports from the European Union would affect the competitiveness of European companies in the American market and the tariffs on Chinese products could result in a flooding of Chinese goods into the European Union. Both of these would hurt the competitiveness of the European market. In order to avoid this, the European Union must pursue new economic alliances elsewhere. It must strengthen its foreign diplomacy in order to make new deals and to be able to better adapt to the rapidly changing world stage.

 

Shifting Global Alliances

NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, was established to counter the Soviet Union militarily in Europe. However, today there is no USSR and although Russia has grown more aggressive in the last ten years, its prolonged struggle to defeat raises questions how dangerous Russia actually is and whether the need for NATO still exists. The emergence of China as an emerging superpower has American policymakers questioning their security commitments to Europe. In a recent speech, the U.S. Secretary of Defence, Pete Hegseth, states that  “stark strategic realities prevent the United States of America from being primarily focused on the security of Europe” (Hegseth, 2025). As the United States’ attention and resources are shifted to counter the growing influence of China in Asia, European nations are faced with the reality that they will have to manage their own defense. As a result, EU member states may have to increase military spending, and further focus on strengthening internal military cooperation. The EU and its member states must cooperate to strengthen the EU’s defense. Relying on the United States is no longer a possibility. The European Union must take responsibility for its own defense to safeguard against external threats.

 

Changing the future order

The European Union has been a remarkable success story, however, its future faces considerable uncertainty. The EU’s manufacturing strength is waning, while external pressures, such as President-elect Trump’s promise to impose tariffs on EU and Chinese goods, threaten to further erode the European Union’s competitiveness. To keep its place on the world stage, the EU must face and adapt to these challenges. Without decisive actions such as strengthening its industrial policies, forging new economic alliances, and maintaining its own defense; the European Union risks becoming a secondary power in the changing global order.