'Coalitions of the willing': A bold, new path for Europe's security and defense

Fabian Zuleeg, chief executive and chief economist of the European Policy Center in Brussels, calls for a bold rethink of EU's approach to integration, urging member states to consider flexible "coalitions of the willing" beyond current treaty constraints. In areas like defense and foreign policy, where consensus is hard to achieve, Zuleeg argues that willing countries must move ahead together, even if that means breaking from traditional EU frameworks. He believes this approach not only accelerates European cooperation, but also creates space to reintegrate non-EU partners like the UK. While not without risk, Zuleeg sees it as the only practical way forward amid mounting geopolitical challenges.