It really can't until it stops bickering internally about what direction they want to take. The EU has all of the tools and most of the resources to seriously rival the US and China, but the fact that its 27 countries with different wants and needs hampers that. Cohesion is needed first.
But they're all still more or less forced to go along with the federal government for international affairs and large-scale projects, for better or worse. Theres pros and cons to the federal system, but it's a big part of why the US is such a powerhouse (when leadership is competent).
Who said anything about the president? It's the whole of the federal government that gets some authority and rights over the states. It's not unlimited, but it doesn't really need to be. The intent is that the federal government can make decisions for the nation as a whole, which sets direction.
The EU can struggle on that front a lot. For example, trying to scrape together a coherent weapons package for Ukraine has been a mess because no one wants to agree on who pays for it or who gets the extra manufacturing work. Issues the US doesn't really have (assuming competent leadership) often.
Even with the current US administration being morons, it doesn't suddenly erase the structural compromises the EU has due to its unique origin as an economic union turned political union. Just my opinion, but individual countries would need to hand over some more control to the commission first.
As if the US isn't massively colonialist and imperialist?! What the EU needs to do is integrate further. That's why the US has such a powerful internal market, because it's highly integrated.
Well. Without the super rich we wouldn't have Renaissance masters or the pyramids or the convenience of Amazon next day delivery. But I don't see modern day oligarchs actually contributing to the good of society.
Ah yes, the ambivalence of the National Trust board - come visit our stately homes, come wallow in guilt. Ruskin thought all great art was due to militarism, & I guess was right - indirectly.
You don't become suddenly the #1 global player overnight. While US is rapidly declining because of its integrated market heavily depending on China. China and EU rise above US as global player replacing the US. Simple as that.
EU needs to Unite to tackle his own challenges. This kind of speech is out of touch with the reality and only bolsters far right arguments. Actual colonialism was over 50 years ago, EU is doing more for the rest of the world than other countries and we have a war on our doorstep with a superpower.
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