The New Europe needs to undertake a profound transformation from a civilian economic power to a comprehensive strategic actor. This requires coordinated action across multiple domains: significantly increasing defense spending to 2.5-3% of GDP; creating unified procurement systems to eliminate wasteful duplication; developing a genuine European defense-industrial base capable of producing everything from ammunition to advanced systems; and establishing command structures that can operate independently of NATO when necessary.

Financially, this transformation demands new mechanisms like defense bonds issued outside debt restriction rules, redirection of existing EU funds, and strategic use of frozen Russian assets. The EU must streamline decision-making on defense matters, potentially creating a "European Security Council" with qualified majority voting rather than unanimity requirements that paralyze action.

A fully realized strategic Europe would maintain three tiers of capability: conventional forces sufficient to deter regional threats; rapidly deployable crisis response units; and a credible nuclear deterrent based on French and British capabilities. It would possess intelligence autonomy through expanded satellite and cyber capabilities, industrial resilience through strategic supply chains, and energy independence. This Europe would remain a NATO partner but could pursue independent strategic interests when necessary, particularly in its immediate neighborhood from the Baltic to the Mediterranean and Africa. Its strength would derive not just from military capacity but from the integrated power of its economy, technological innovation, diplomatic network, and democratic values.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​