Respected experts on European politics spoke during the session including Former Federal Chancellor of the Republic of Austria Wolfgang Schuessel, former Defense minister of Germany Volker Ruehe, senator and former Prime Minister of Poland Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz, and former Prime Minister of Italy and ex-President of the European Commission Romano Prodi. Most of the participants in the discussion were optimistic about Europe’s future.

       The Valdai Discussion Club held a special session devoted to the future of Europe.

       Respected experts on European politics spoke during the session including Former Federal Chancellor of the Republic of Austria Wolfgang Schuessel, former Defense minister of Germany Volker Ruehe, senator and former Prime Minister of Poland Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz, and former Prime Minister of Italy and ex-President of the European Commission Romano Prodi. Most of the participants in the discussion were optimistic about Europe’s future.

       “You shouldn’t understate the future of the European Union,” Schuessel said. “Don’t be too hasty to pigeonhole us.” The experts pointed to several positive indicators such as the recent growth of the European economy which has already recovered from its downturn.

       However, there is a danger posed by the poorly coordinated economic and foreign-policy moves of European countries. “The problem is that we are not really like the straws in a broom, all tied together,” Prodi said. “This needs to be changed, and all the power institutions should operate in a coordinated manner.” Yet he acknowledged that this change would more likely be a step-by-step one rather than a dramatic one.

       Russia and the European Union will face serious demographic problems over the next 15-20 years, and will have to prove they are still competitive, Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz said. The population is declining, which is more of a challenge for Russia than for Europe, he added.

       “Today, with China’s economic rise, we have suddenly found out that in industries we are no more competitive. So we must use the advantages we have – primarily our intellectual and scientific potential,” he said.

       The experts cited other potential threats to Europe’s welfare such as illegal immigration and dependence on energy resource supplies from other regions, primarily Russia.

       Views expressed are of individual Members and Contributors, rather than the Club's, unless explicitly stated otherwise.