The European Union’s quest of open strategic autonomy is a necessary response to our rapidly changing and increasingly transactional world of intensifying great power rivalry, producing complex, multidimensional and fluid challenges.

If the Union wants to remain a leading global actor, it needs to be more united and assertive, draw on the lessons from recent and ongoing multiple multidimensional crises, and implement its necessary reforms. No more business as usual.

EU open strategic autonomy refers to the Union’s ability to act autonomously when and where necessary, and with partners whenever possible, in all matters of strategic significance.

It is the way for the Union to pursue its interests and values without undue over reliance on the resources and capabilities of external actors and to be resilient to shocks of various nature due to an efficient and sustainable use of its strategic assets, based on our autonomy of decision and autonomy of action.

EU open strategic autonomy requires collaboration, coordination and synergies across various external and internal policies within the Union.

This paper has the objective of framing a holistic, multidimensional and consistent progressive interpretation of the concept of EU open strategic autonomy for the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists & Democrats in the European Parliament (S&D Group).