BERLIN ¨C For seven decades, European integration has been driven by the quest for peace.
But since Russia¡¯s invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, Europe has found itself unifying in response to war. The peace project has given way to a war project, and this fundamental shift is forcing European governments to reconsider some of their longest-held principles.
Most obviously, they now must concern themselves with hard power. There has been much discussion about German rearmament, Denmark¡¯s decision to participate in European joint defense arrangements and Sweden and Finland¡¯s bid for NATO membership. Taboos have been broken, with European Union member states sending heavy weapons to Ukraine and the EU¡¯s ¡°peace facility¡± pledging €2 billion ($2.1 billion) to arm that beleaguered country. Moreover, the EU has fashioned its economy into a weapon to use against Russia, and it is now planning for a war economy, where security will take priority over efficiency.
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