European integration, strategic autonomy and the relationship between China and European Union

After World War II, European integration brought peace, stability and economic progress. However, resistance to this process has recently been noticed due to the rise of populism and extreme political trends. In order to overcome these challenges and enable further development, the strategic autonomy of the EU becomes crucial. This implies the ability of the EU and its members to act independently on the global stage, through closer cooperation in the areas of security, foreign policy and defense, as well as the improvement of economic integration and competitiveness. Strategic autonomy does not mean isolation, but a constructive role in the international community. European integration is necessary to achieve this autonomy. China supports Europe in these efforts, and EU-China relations will be a mixture of cooperation and competition. Europe is facing the issues of the multipolarity of the world and the evolution of the international landscape, which is emphasized in the context of the Ukrainian crisis. Europe must decide whether to follow the US or take its own stance towards China, and the debate on European integration is centered on strategic autonomy as key to its role in international relations.