Lagarde affirms that thanks to Trump’s “kick in the ass” of Europe, the leaders of the old continent “are getting closer”

“The kick in the ass that we all received as a result of President Trump’s change in attitude towards Europe” is “effectively bringing European leaders and policymakers much closer,” she said. “That must continue,” the Frenchwoman added during a panel at the Munich Security Conference.

Lagarde has also cited Jean Monnet already Robert Schumannconsidered the architects of the European integration project, to affirm that, as they already said, “Europe grows in times of crisis.” Likewise, he agreed that “Europe becomes stronger and more united in times of crisis.”

Lagarde did not consider it negative that some countries advance without others on certain projects if the majority of the 27 member states is not reached, at a time when several leaders demand more pace in the adoption of economic and political initiatives, including aid to Ukraine, and others cannot or do not want to join certain measures.

“What really matters is that leaders know that it is possible and that public opinion understands that it is possible,” to move forward at two speeds, he said.

The president of the ECB gave as an example the loan of 90 billion euros that 24 of 27 European leaders adopted to support Ukraine against Russia.

“Was it unanimous? No. Three Member States were specifically excluded from that loan, but they were still able to do so. It is not an impediment or a limitation. Unanimity is preferable, but if it does not work, we can move forward without it,” he said.

Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal, on the other hand, was skeptical, wondering how many layers of different speeds there will be in the end this way.

“Because, for example, in defense there will be the Baltic countries, the Nordic countries, Germany, Poland, perhaps the United Kingdom from outside, Norway… That would be the ‘onion’ of defense. In technology it will probably again be certain Nordic countries, perhaps Germany. So that would be the technological ‘onion’. In finance, other different onions. So, how many onions?” there will be in the end, he wondered.

“I would say that Europe is much better being united. Even though we are different, that makes us stronger,” he said.

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