Three main challenges for Europe in 2016

The year that is going to end has been very difficult for Europe.

The Greek crisis, the situation in Syria, the immigration, the terrorist attacks are the main events of 2015. Europe seems always weaker and disoriented, unable to take any leadership as political subject in the World.

Next year doesn't look easier. There will be at least 3 main challenges that Europe will have to face.

First, the economic crisis is not ended yet. The solution found for Greece seems more a palliative that a real answer to the problems of the Country. Also Finland is not passing a good period caused by the relations with Russia and for the problems with Nokia, it can become the new sick man of Europe. Will be Europe able to mitigate and solve the economic contrasts between the different Countries?

Second: the international context is getting more and more complex. Isis, the contrasts between Russia and Turkey and the Syrian war are exasperating the international relations. Will be Europe able to manage the tensions at her borders?

Third and last, Europe has lost credibility this year. The European institutions were outclassed by the leadership of one Country - Germany. Many voices were raised against terrorism and Isis, but not a unique action was really agreed. Euro is always more criticized, but nothing have been done to mitigate the social contrasts and to propose a new governance. Will be Europe able to do it in 2016?

Will be Europe able to transform herself in a political subject?

History can always change.

Happy New Year!

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Three reasons we don't need to be scared of Marine Le Pen

The win of "Le Front National" in the first turn of the Regional Elections in France few days ago has started a wide debate in Europe.

Marin Le Pen, who lead the party since 2011, has very clear ideas on important topics: end of Euro, stop immigration, protectionism, no same-sex marriage, just to mention the main ones.

Will she be able to win the Presidential Elections in 2017? And if she was President, what could it happen to Europe?

I think we shouldn't be scared of Marine Le Pen for three main reasons.

First, even if the Front National is an important political force, it represents still a minority in France. PS and Republicans still hold the majority of the electorate.

Second, in two years everything can happen. The mood of the electorate can change suddenly, and moreover, the voting logics are very different from the local to the national level.

Third and the most important, European Union needs a political shock. It wasn't enough Syriza and the ghost of Grexit, not enough what it is happening in Syria. Maybe the political and economical establishment need to imagine a France led by Marine Le Pen in order to start thinking a new idea of Europe. 

Never too late.

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