The Role of Europe in the New Great Power Competition

Speaker: Rector Federica Mogherini (College of Europe)

Date: 17 March 2021

Speaker Session Summary

SMA hosted a speaker session, presented by Rector Federica Mogherini (College of Europe; Former High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy), as a part of its SMA INSS/PRISM Speaker Series. 

To begin, Rector Mogherini stated that many European leaders believe that the US is returning to a more cooperative stance with the EU and NATO. She explained that the US’s cooperative relationship with Europe can be traced throughout history, which has created a sense of community across the Atlantic until recent years. Reinvigorating this sense of community will be important for how the US and European nations handle mutual security and economic challenges. Rector Mogherini believes that if the US returns to multilateral cooperation from its recent mercantilist policies, then the US and the EU can shape global policies together. Potential areas of cooperation for the US and its allies in the EU (and NATO) include Russia’s interference in Eastern Europe, decreasing conflict in the Middle East, climate change, and ending the global pandemic. However, Rector Mogherini did acknowledge that while it is assumed that President Biden’s administration will move away from more isolationist policies, upcoming election cycles in European countries can also influence the US’s bilateral relationships with both the EU and NATO. 

Rector Mogherini then pointed out that while there are areas for cooperation between Europe and the US, there are still areas that might result in competition as well. These areas of potential tension include differing views on China’s global role. She believes that while the EU views China as a systemic rival, it believes that China can and should be considered as a cooperative economic and security partner, whereas the US wants to limit China’s influence on policy altogether. The EU will also likely continue a policy of partial European autonomy, in which it will act separately from the US when it believes the US’s decisions do not represent its core values. However, Rector Mogherini ended her presentation on a positive note by stating that the perception that the US is ending its more isolationist policies has created a reinvigorated sense of hope for new multilateral cooperation between the US and the EU. 

Speaker Session Recording

Notes:

1. We had some technical difficulties during the Q&A portion of the brief, so unfortunately we had to conclude the session early. We apologize for the inconvenience.

2. We are aware that many government IT providers have blocked access to YouTube from government machines during the pandemic in response to bandwidth limitations. We recommend viewing the recording on YouTube from a non-government computer or listening to the audio file (below), if you are in this position.

Briefing Materials

Biography:

Federica Mogherini attended the Sapienza University of Rome, earning a bachelor’s degree in Political Science.

Mogherini joined the Italian Democratic Party of the Left in the late 1990s. She was appointed as a member of the Regional Council of Lazio in 2003. In 2008, she was elected to the Chamber of Deputies, the lower house of the Italian Parliament. She actively engaged in various committees during her tenure, focusing on foreign affairs, defense, and European integration.

In 2013, she was appointed Italy’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

A strong emphasis on multilateralism and the pursuit of peaceful solutions to global conflicts marked her tenure. Mogherini was pivotal in mediating between conflicting parties, particularly in the Middle East.

In 2014, Mogherini was appointed the High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and became the Vice President of the European Commission. One of Mogherini’s most notable achievements as the EU High Representative was her role in negotiating the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), commonly known as the Iran Nuclear Deal.

Mogherini’s diplomatic efforts were paralleled by her advocacy for human rights and gender equality. She consistently championed the rights of women and marginalized communities, pushing for their inclusion and representation in decision-making processes. She utilized her platform to promote gender mainstreaming in EU policies, advocating for equal representation and opportunities for all. Her work in this area extended beyond policy changes; she also sought to raise awareness and change attitudes toward these issues, contributing significantly to the broader discourse on gender equality and human rights (https://www.federicamogherini.net/).

The SMA INSS/PRISM Speaker Series description and list of the other sessions in this series can be downloaded here.