Restoring Leadership for a Stronger and Democratic Europe in a Multipolar World

At a time of increasing political multi-polarity, where geopolitical and economic shifts challenge traditional power balances, Europe must rethink its role not as a reactive bloc, but as a proactive leader. The growing influence of China, the strategic assertiveness of the Gulf states, or the increasing role in the international agenda of countries like India, Brazil or South Africa are a wake-up call for Europe to reinvent itself. The ongoing uncertainty surrounding U.S. global engagement amplifies the vacuum in transatlantic leadership—a void Europe should now step up to partially fill. To do so effectively, Europe, with threats from Putin to the East and the uncertainty posed by Trump to the West, must restore its internal leadership capacities and project coherent values and a results-driven strategy beyond its borders.

Lessons in Leadership from Democratic Emergencies

Club de Madrid’s Global Commission on Democracy and Emergencies—formed in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic—offers powerful insights on what effective democratic leadership entails during times of converging crises and rising polarisation. The pandemic was not only a public health and economic shock, but also a governance stress test. It revealed that leadership grounded in transparency, civic inclusion, institutional resilience, and evidence-based decision-making is not only desirable but necessary for democratic survival.

The Global Commission argued that in emergency contexts, leaders must act decisively yet democratically—anchored in law, respectful of rights, and with robust oversight. The resilience of our democratic systems depends on our ability to prepare for uncertainty, and to lead through it with integrity and accountability. In the current fractured global landscape, these lessons extend beyond public health to encompass security, climate, digital governance, and geopolitical realignment.

Europe Must Lead, Not Just Manage

Europe’s strength lies not in managing crises, but in helping lead global action based on solid values, side by side with others. However, to do so, we must work together on three leadership imperatives:

1. Strategic Autonomy Through Democratic Cohesion

Europe urgently needs to overcome internal divisions— whether political, economic, or institutional—in order to achieve real strategic autonomy. But this autonomy shouldn’t lead to isolation. Rather, it should empower the European Union to act with unity, purpose, and reduce dependency in critical sectors, especially in a world increasingly defined by geopolitical rivalry and economic fragmentation. As outlined in The Future of European Competitiveness, strategic autonomy must be grounded in coordinated industrial, trade, and foreign economic policies that strengthen the EU’s resilience and reduce critical dependencies, particularly in areas such as clean technologies and critical raw materials.That being said, strategic autonomy must also be grounded on a foundation of democratic resilience. This requires building resilient institutions, fostering inclusive and participatory policymaking, ensuring a solid competitive economy, and enhancing the EU’s ability to anticipate and respond to crises. Democratic cohesion and strategic autonomy go hand in hand: reforms must be anchored in democratic legitimacy, coordinated governance, and collective investment in public goods—particularly in innovation, defence, and decarbonisation.

2. Multilateralism in a Multipolar World

Europe should advocate for the reform of multilateral institutions to better reflect today’s global power distribution. This includes engaging constructively—not defensively—with rising powers such as China, India, and the Gulf states. Rather than viewing these actors solely through a competitive lens, Europe must seek pragmatic and strategic collaboration on shared challenges, from climate resilience to digital governance, while defending democratic norms as non-negotiable.

In addition to this, it is imperative for the EU to revitalise alliances not only with traditional partners but also with civil society, private sector, cities, and emerging democracies worldwide. A Europe that leads must listen and co-create global governance with those it seeks to collaborate. 

3. Democratic Innovation and Civic Trust

Leadership is not only exercised at the top. Democratic resilience during times of crisis is sustained by civic trust and participation. Europe must invest in participatory tools—digital and in-person alike—that bring citizens closer to decision-making. Democratic innovation, such as deliberative forums and digital civic platforms, is crucial to bridging the growing trust deficit in European democracies.

Restoring leadership, therefore, starts at home: with renewed civic engagement, proactive disinformation countermeasures, and digital equity. This must be accompanied by a robust political economy that citizens see as future-oriented and that protects European strategic interests in an interconnected world. Without a citizenry that trusts its institutions, Europe cannot hope to lead externally.

Europe’s Democratic Moment

The acceleration of global fragmentation, challenges and uncertainties call for Europe to shift gears. With shifting alliances, economic decoupling, and looming climate threats, Europe’s leadership must evolve and adapt rapidly with the changing reality. The next wave of challenges—technological disruption, management of global public goods, ongoing and new conflicts—will test Europe’s ability to lead. 

Europe’s strength must lie not in emulating the outdated models that might have succeeded at a different time, but in offering a renewed and coherent democratic alternative: one that is inclusive, accountable, strategic, and future-oriented. What may seem like idealism is, in fact, a necessary and pragmatic strategy for safeguarding democracy in a complex global environment.

The time to restore leadership is now. And the pathway to a stronger Europe lies through bold, democratic action.