The writer is a former French minister of state for Europe
If the result of the European elections in France turned democratic life upside down, the centre of gravity of the European parliament ultimately did not move much. Nonetheless, the next European executive must prepare for major upheaval in the near future.
This five-year European mandate should be one of “radical change”, to use the words of Mario Draghi, former president of the European Central Bank. Three themes will dominate the agenda: a change of economic paradigm to boost European competitiveness; accelerating and consolidating the European defence industry; and enlargement.