Det europeiska samarbetet är inne i en formativ fas, där pandemin och kriget i Ukraina kommer att spela stor roll för EU:s framtida riktning. Därför är det särskilt viktigt att ta vara och bygga vidare på unionens fundament: en innovativ och dynamisk ekonomi som syftar till att garantera Europas säkerhet. I den här antologin utvecklar elva skribenter sina idéer om vilken riktning den europeiska politiken bör ta, från hur vi bäst främjar innovation och entreprenörskap till hur vi bemöter Kinas växande ambitioner. Somliga av kapitlen i denna antologi har publicerats av Frivärld tidigare, andra ges ut för första gången. Gemensamt har de att de identifierar och uppmanar till vad Europa kan och måste göra genom politiska prioriteringar. Det handlar om utmaningar vi bara kan hantera tillsammans – som européer.

March 7, 2024 — the day Sweden became a member of NATO. Seventy-five years after the founding of the alliance. The road to NATO was paved by those who believed the Alliance was Sweden’s natural home. While the journey was a long, uphill battle, proponents maintained the course, even when the destination seemed to grow ever farther away. But why did it take us so long to join? And is that even a worthwhile question to ask so soon after Sweden’s NATO accession? Shouldn’t those who worked for Swedish membership simply be satisfied with the result and leave it at that? After all, the most important objective has been achieved. First published in Swedish in Spring 2024, this book captured a moment in time when NATO accession was the culmination of many’s life work. The tone was triumphant. Our close ties with the alliance could no longer be subject to doubt. We were now openly and unequivocally part of the community we were always meant to belong to. This English translation comes as Sweden approaches two years of membership, with the transatlantic Alliance facing new and unprecedented challenges. Indeed, “we are entering a new era,” just not exactly the one we envisioned when Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson announced Sweden’s intent to join May 18, 2022.

Det europeiska samarbetet är inne i en formativ fas, där pandemin och kriget i Ukraina kommer att spela stor roll för EU:s framtida riktning. Därför är det särskilt viktigt att ta vara och bygga vidare på unionens fundament: en innovativ och dynamisk ekonomi som syftar till att garantera Europas säkerhet. I den här antologin utvecklar elva skribenter sina idéer om vilken riktning den europeiska politiken bör ta, från hur vi bäst främjar innovation och entreprenörskap till hur vi bemöter Kinas växande ambitioner. Somliga av kapitlen i denna antologi har publicerats av Frivärld tidigare, andra ges ut för första gången. Gemensamt har de att de identifierar och uppmanar till vad Europa kan och måste göra genom politiska prioriteringar. Det handlar om utmaningar vi bara kan hantera tillsammans – som européer.

March 7, 2024 — the day Sweden became a member of NATO. Seventy-five years after the founding of the alliance. The road to NATO was paved by those who believed the Alliance was Sweden’s natural home. While the journey was a long, uphill battle, proponents maintained the course, even when the destination seemed to grow ever farther away. But why did it take us so long to join? And is that even a worthwhile question to ask so soon after Sweden’s NATO accession? Shouldn’t those who worked for Swedish membership simply be satisfied with the result and leave it at that? After all, the most important objective has been achieved. First published in Swedish in Spring 2024, this book captured a moment in time when NATO accession was the culmination of many’s life work. The tone was triumphant. Our close ties with the alliance could no longer be subject to doubt. We were now openly and unequivocally part of the community we were always meant to belong to. This English translation comes as Sweden approaches two years of membership, with the transatlantic Alliance facing new and unprecedented challenges. Indeed, “we are entering a new era,” just not exactly the one we envisioned when Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson announced Sweden’s intent to join May 18, 2022.