The writers are the president of France and the chancellor of Germany

In a few weeks, we Europeans will start setting out our agenda for the next term in the EU. Looking back at the challenges over the last five years — be it the pandemic, the ongoing Russian war of aggression against Ukraine or increasing geopolitical shifts — it is clear: Europe is experiencing its Zeitenwende. We can’t take for granted the foundations on which we have built our European way of living and our role in the world. Our Europe is mortal, and we must rise to the challenge.

Strengthening our global competitiveness and enhancing our resilience while making the Green Deal and the digital transition a success is at the heart of responding to these challenges. To this end, France and Germany are proposing today a renewed impetus for competitiveness for the EU’s next term.