Solutions for Europe
Europe was once the land of empires and the stage for wars. It was a laboratory of ideas, the cradle of modern science, the origin of revolutions and treaties that reshaped the world. But it was (and continues to be) an unfinished project. Today, faced with new challenges and old weaknesses, the continent is seeking to rediscover its direction. It oscillates between fragmentation and integration, between external dependence and the desire for sovereignty, between environmental urgency and technological imperatives. But what solutions are there for Europe?
This article revisits some of the key moments in this journey: from the memory of war to the founding of the European Union; from strategic reports to Portugal’s role in their implementation; from the demand for more innovation to the urgency of plural leadership. Because, as in the past, it is in moments of courage that Europe rewrites its history—with memory, vision, and a desire for the future.
How did we get here?
Europe has more than one origin. There is the geographical one, which is obvious. There is the political one, which is decisive. And there is the mythological one, which is the oldest and, even today, curiously revealing. According to legend, Europa was a Phoenician princess kidnapped by Zeus, disguised as a white bull. Taken to the island of Crete, she was given a new name and a new identity. Since that founding episode, the continent thus named has lived with the same ambivalences: idealism and strength, identity and belonging, prudence and impulse.
But the idea of a united Europe emerged long before the treaties. In 1849, at the Peace Congress in Paris, and on a continent still marked by the revolutions of 1848, Victor Hugo dared to imagine the “United States of Europe”. The concept wasn’t merely literary rhetoric. It was a response to the instability and violence of a restless century: the Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815) had redrawn the map of Europe, the Greek War of Independence (1821–1830) had mobilized consciences in the name of freedom, and the Spanish Civil War (1833–1839) had revealed the clash between old monarchies and new ideals.
Vítor Hugo’s vision was not lost, but it was ahead of its time and would only re-emerge in the following decades. After World War I (1914-1918), thinkers such as Coudenhove-Kalergi revived the idea with the Pan-Europe movement (1923), which proposed integration as a political response to fragmentation and nationalism. However, it was only after another catastrophe (larger and more brutal) that the dream would become possible.
Between 1939 and 1945, Europe was once again the scene of large-scale destruction. World War II left physical, political, and moral wounds. It also left the conviction that peace needed a new institutional basis. It was with this goal in mind that, in the 1951 Treaty of Paris, six countries (France, West Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg) created the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), placing strategic war resources under common control.
In 1951, the Treaty of Paris marked the start of European integration, bringing together six countries in the joint management of coal and steel.
“A day will come when all of the continent’s nations will unite, without losing their qualities and identity, in a higher brotherhood. A day will come when the United States of America and the United States of Europe will stand face to face, extending their hands across the seas, exchanging their products, their trade, their industry, their arts, their geniuses; illuminating each other with the lights of freedom and peace.”
Opening speech by Victor Hugo at the Peace Congress in Paris, 1849
In 1957, the same six countries founded, with the Treaty of Rome (which actually refers to two treaties signed on the same day), the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM). While the EEC aimed to build a common market to ensure shared prosperity, EURATOM sought to coordinate the development of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, strengthening safety, promoting scientific cooperation, and reducing energy dependence on external sources.
While the treaties consolidated economic integration, European societies were undergoing a transformation. The Second Vatican Council (1962–1965) renewed the Catholic Church and brought a new social sensitivity: greater religious freedom, new roles for women, greater emphasis on individual conscience, and openness to dialogue between cultures and generations. A few years later, May 1968 gave rise to an alternative political and cultural language, characterized by protest, creativity, and a break with traditional hierarchies. And in southern Europe, democracy arrived after decades of authoritarianism: Portugal (1974), Greece (1974), and Spain (1975) began the path to freedom, which would also lead them to the center of the European project.
At the same time, political integration was progressing. In 1979, European citizens began to directly elect their representatives to the European Parliament – an important step in the democratic construction of the Union. In 1985, West Germany, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg signed the Schengen Agreement, which laid the foundations for the elimination of internal borders and the free movement of people between countries. The agreement came into force a decade later, in 1995, transforming mobility within Europe. And in 1986, with the entry of Portugal and Spain into the EEC, Europe ceased to be a project concentrated in the center and north: it became a shared commitment extended to the south of the continent.
In 1989, the fall of the Berlin Wall opened a new historical cycle. The reunification of Germany (1990), the collapse of communist regimes in Eastern Europe, and the end of the Cold War created the conditions for a broader, more cohesive, and more ambitious Europe. But the path was not linear. From 1991 (until 2001), the wars in the Balkans served as a reminder that peace required more than ideals — it required solid institutions and political will. It was in this context that, in 1993, the Maastricht Treaty came into force, marking the formal birth of the European Union (EU), extending its political powers and setting the course for economic and monetary union. Two years later, in 1995, the Union expanded into northern Europe with the accession of Austria, Finland, and Sweden.
The euro then became the most visible symbol of integration: adopted in 1999 in its accounting phase, and put into circulation in 2002 as a physical currency common to 12 countries. Two years later, in 2004, the EU underwent the largest enlargement in its history, with the entry of 10 new Member States, mainly from Central and Eastern Europe: Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Cyprus, and Malta.
During the protests of May 1968, young people took to the streets to demand more rights, more freedom, and a new direction for society.
On November 9, 1989, the Berlin Wall fell, bringing an end to decades of separation in Germany and Europe.
In 2005, the proposed European Constitution was rejected in referendums in France and the Netherlands, revealing internal tensions and differing views on the future of integration. In response to this impasse, the Treaty of Lisbon was approved in 2009, reforming the institutions and strengthening the role of the European Parliament. The enlargement process continued: in 2007, Bulgaria and Romania joined; and in 2013, Croatia became the 28th Member State. The Union was becoming not only larger, but also more diverse, with new opportunities, new challenges, and increasing complexity that would require constant adaptation.
In 2015, the refugee crisis exposed structural weaknesses within the Union. The massive influx of people fleeing the war in Syria and other unstable regions in the Middle East and Africa revealed deep internal divisions over reception, solidarity, and border control. The Schengen area was put to the test by unilateral measures and the resurgence of internal borders. The following year, in 2016, the referendum in the United Kingdom resulted in the decision to leave the European Union, a process that was completed in 2020. BREXIT was a political, institutional, and symbolic shock. For the first time, a Member State chose to leave the European project. The Union now had 27 countries and had to reinvent itself, reaffirming the values of integration.
In 2021, in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, the EU took a historic step: it launched the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP), financed by joint European debt. It was a moment of unprecedented economic solidarity and a clear sign of deeper integration. However, the following year, in 2022, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine marked the return of large-scale war to the European continent. The EU’s united response (with sanctions, military support, and the reception of millions of refugees) reopened the debate on sovereignty, security, and the need for a more robust European defense.
Between 2023 and 2024, enlargement returned to the center of the European debate. In addition to Ukraine and Moldova, the Western Balkans have long claimed their place in the EU. The idea of a geographically broader and politically stronger Europe became not only desirable but necessary. In 2024, two developments confirmed Europe’s ambition in a changing world. The first was the acceleration of the European Green Deal, which, combined with a new industrial policy, placed energy transition, technological sovereignty, and strategic autonomy at the center of the European agenda. The second milestone was the adoption of the AI Act, the world’s first comprehensive legislation on artificial intelligence. By establishing clear rules and ethical principles for the use of technology, Europe has asserted itself as a global regulatory power, capable of leading by example. Virgínia Dignum, professor of Responsible AI at Umeå University (Sweden), often uses the metaphor of a car to explain that regulating does not mean “braking” innovation, but rather allowing us to move forward safely—just as brakes in a car are not for slowing down, but for enabling us to go fast, always with control and responsibility.
This European statement comes amid a rapidly changing global landscape. Donald Trump’s re-election in 2025 marked a strategic shift away from Europe for the US. Multilateralism lost its centrality, traditional alliances weakened, migration policies became tougher, and trade wars once again marked US foreign policy. At the same time, relations with China became tenser. Economic competition intensified, markets became more unstable, and supply chains more vulnerable. The reconfiguration of global alliances (with the growing influence of Latin America and the Arab world, the unpredictability of Russia, the ongoing war in Ukraine, and renewed tensions between India and Pakistan) has made it clear that the world has changed.
Integrated into this unstable world order, Europe can no longer limit itself to reacting or return to being the princess waiting to be rescued. The future of the European project depends on its ability to lead with maturity, innovate with responsibility, and act on behalf of a common purpose.
Three reports, a new direction for Europe
In less than a year, three strategic reports have shaken up the European debate with rigorous diagnoses and ambitious proposals. Mario Draghi, Enrico Letta, and Manuel Heitor started from different perspectives, but converge on one essential idea: Europe needs a new economic purpose. It isn’t just a matter of weathering the crisis, but of turning uncertainty into a competitive advantage.
| Draghi report: investing in innovation, decarbonization, and security
The report “The Future of European Competitiveness”, delivered by Mario Draghi to the European Commission, reveals that the EU has €270 billion less invested in innovation than the US. Since 2000, the average standard of living in the US has almost doubled compared to Europe. And as population growth slows, it is estimated that there will be a loss of almost 2 million professionals per year until 2040, making productivity the only possible lever. Draghi, who in addition to being an economist is a former Italian prime minister and former president of the European Central Bank, proposes three strategic axes to reverse this trend:
1. Closing the innovation gap: Europe continues to generate talent, research, and startups. But few scale up, and many end up leaving. Between 2008 and 2021, 30% of unicorns founded in Europe moved their headquarters outside the continent (mostly to the US). The three organizations that invest most in innovation in Europe also continue to be in the automotive sector. In the US, on the other hand, they are all technology companies. For more than 50 years, no new European company has exceeded €100 billion in market capitalization. In the US, the six largest companies with a value of over €1 billion were all founded during this period. Draghi proposes to unlock this potential with more investment, better regulation, and skills for all.
2. Accelerating decarbonization: Despite recent price declines, European companies still pay 2 to 3 times more for electricity than their US counterparts and 4 to 5 times more for natural gas. This reflects not only resource scarcity but also structural flaws in the European energy market: rules that prevent consumers from benefiting from the true cost of clean energy and excessive profits captured by financial intermediaries. The EU also faces fierce competition from China, which combines industrial scale, rapid innovation, and control of raw materials. For Draghi, the response requires a joint plan that brings together clean energy production, the automotive sector, and the technology industry.
3. Strengthening security: In the production of digital technology, particularly semiconductors, 75% to 90% of global capacity is concentrated in Asia. Draghi advocates the development of a more effective European foreign economic policy: strategic agreements with resource-rich countries, strategic reserves, and industrial partnerships that guarantee secure supply chains. Despite being the world’s second largest block in terms of military spending, the EU does not translate this investment into commensurate industrial defense capabilities. Here, Draghi proposes more coordination, more scale, and interoperability.
“Europe faces a choice between paralysis, exit, or integration. Exit has already been tried and did not bring the results its advocates hoped for. Paralysis is becoming unsustainable as we move toward greater levels of anxiety and insecurity. Therefore, integration is the only hope we have left.”
Dragui Report , “The Future of European Competitiveness”
| Letta Report: reviving the single market
Thirty years after the creation of the single market, its potential is far from exhausted (but also far from being realized). In the report “Much More than a Market: Speed, Security, Solidarity”, former Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta warns of the urgent need to revitalize what was, and continues to be, the economic engine of the EU. Why? Because fragmentation, legal and administrative barriers, and lack of coordination are hampering Europe’s growth, innovation, and strategic autonomy.
Despite accounting for around 15% of global GDP, the EU continues to operate with highly fragmented capital, telecommunications, and energy markets. Removing barriers in the single market could, according to estimates, add up to 2.6% to the EU’s GDP—the equivalent of €228-372* billion per year (*this range reflects different scenarios for implementing the proposed reforms). Letta proposes five priority areas for action: mobility, capital, energy, data, and innovation. And he puts forward an ambitious proposal: the creation of a fifth European freedom, dedicated to science, innovation, and education, to unlock investment in emerging technologies and prepare the talent needed for the dual digital and climate transition.
But Letta goes beyond the economy and advocates a profound reform of the governance of the single market, with a strengthened role for the European Council and the European Commission, alongside the mobilization of all actors—governments, businesses, social partners, and citizens. The report stresses the importance of reviving the spirit of European social dialogue, launched by Jacques Delors in 1985, to ensure that the ecological and digital transition is also a fair transition. It also proposes the creation of a Permanent Citizens’ Conference to ensure monitoring, democratic legitimacy, and public involvement in major European decisions.
“The framework of the Single Market, based on the definition of the four freedoms—free movement of people, goods, services, and capital—is fundamentally based on theoretical principles from the 20th century. (…) One possible way to renew it is to add a fifth freedom to the four existing ones, in order to strengthen research, innovation, and education in the Single Market. This fifth freedom could drive advances in areas such as R&D, data use, skills, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, biotechnology, biorobotics, and space, among others.”
Letta Report, “Much More than a Market: Speed, Security, Solidarity”
| Heitor Report: innovating with European science and talent
The report “Align, Act, Accelerate: Research, Technology, and Innovation to Boost European Competitiveness”, coordinated by Manuel Heitor, former Minister of Science, Technology, and Higher Education of Portugal, is based on the following premise: without science, technology, and innovation, Europe will not be able to respond to the challenges of our time or maintain its economic and social model.
The result of nine months of work by a group of experts brought together by the European Commission, the report sets out an agenda to strengthen the European R&D ecosystem, accelerate the application of knowledge, and align innovation with the EU’s strategic objectives. The proposal involves concrete actions in the last three years of the current framework program (Horizon Europe 2025–2027) and the preparation of the next cycle (FP10 2028–2034), focusing on four interconnected areas: scientific excellence, industrial competitiveness, social transformations, and consolidation of the European innovation ecosystem.
The reality is worrying: Europe remains below the target of 3% of GDP invested in R&D, and the brain drain persists (around 25% of researchers trained in the EU work outside Europe). The report also warns of a number of structural challenges—from climate and demographic change to disinformation, global strategic competition, and the rapid advancement of technologies such as AI, quantum computing, and biotechnology—which require coordinated scientific and political responses. Among the measures proposed are strengthening research infrastructure, supporting high-risk and high-ambition projects, encouraging cross-border collaboration, and creating regulatory experimentation spaces (so-called sandboxes) that allow innovations to be tested in controlled environments.
“This report also takes into account the significant uncertainties and unique challenges of our time: climate change, war, demographic shifts, rising inequalities, pandemics, erosion of democracy and fundamental rights, growing global strategic competition, and a constellation of emerging technologies, as well as their interaction with ethics, security, and competitiveness; transformations in the labor market, proliferation of fake news and denial of science, among others. (…) Science, technology, and innovation are the critical currency for responding to these challenges.”
Heitor Report, “Align, Act, Accelerate: Research, Technology and Innovation to Boost European Competitiveness”
Portugal in Europe: from beneficiary to contributor
“Here, almost at the summit of the head of all Europe, lies the Lusitanian Kingdom,” wrote Luís de Camões in Canto III, stanza 20, of “Os Lusíadas.” It was there, “where the land ends and the sea begins,” that Portugal asserted itself as a starting point rather than an end point. Even then, it was not just territory: it was position, vision, and mission on the European continent. Centuries later, Fernando Pessoa took up the idea and gave it symbolic form. In “Mensagem,” he describes a thoughtful Europe, reclining on itself, but still looking to the future, “resting on its elbows,” from East to West. “The face with which it gazes is Portugal,” he wrote.
Portugal was not made to turn its back on the world. Whenever it could, it moved forward. Whenever it had to wait, it prepared itself. And when the time finally came to join the European project in 1986, it did not hesitate. It brought with it a fresh democracy, built with its own hands since April 25. It also brought a people accustomed to navigating uncertainties and imagining the future. Joining the EEC was more than an institutional step; it was a civilizational gesture that brought modernity and hope.
Structural funds have been decisive in transforming the country: from highways to water supply and basic sanitation, from the expansion of the school and university network to urban and heritage regeneration. Programs such as the ERDF (European Regional Development Fund) and the ESF (European Social Fund), as well as PRODER (Rural Development Program), POCH (Human Capital Operational Program), PNI (National Infrastructure Plan), and Portugal 2020, were instrumental in modernizing entire sectors—from agriculture to fisheries, from industry to tourism. They also provided support to small and medium-sized enterprises, combated youth unemployment, and promoted the development of the country’s interior.
The evolution was also cultural and strategic: Portugal opened up to the world. It hosted Expo 98, demonstrated its organizational capacity with Euro 2004, strengthened its Atlantic diplomacy and proximity to Portuguese-speaking countries, and today hosts global events such as World Youth Day and the Web Summit. More recently, with the PRR, European funds are being channeled into the digital transition, business innovation, energy sustainability, and the strengthening of public services—from health to housing, from public administration to schools.
But today, Portugal is also an active contributor in areas that are crucial to the future of Europe, whether in terms of digital infrastructure, scientific talent, energy transition, or multilateral diplomacy.
What does Portugal have?
Its geography has become a highly coveted asset. With an Atlantic location that naturally connects Europe to the Americas and Africa to Asia, Portugal is establishing itself as a global data interconnection hub and gateway to the world. Currently, around 25% of the submarine fiber optic cables connecting continents pass through Portuguese territory, and by 2026 the country expects to have direct connections with 60 countries on five continents, according to a study by DE-CIX. At the beginning of 2024, Portugal had 33 data centers in operation. In Sines, geography is once again an advantage, with the birth of one of the largest and most sustainable hyperscale data centers in Europe, developed by Start Campus.
In terms of energy, the figures speak for themselves: in 2023, 72% of the electricity consumed in Portugal came from renewable sources, according to data from REN – Redes Energéticas Nacionais. Hydropower accounted for 25% of the total, followed by wind (23%), solar (8%), and biomass (5%). The country has set a target of achieving 85% renewable electricity by 2030, driven by large-scale projects in solar, offshore wind, green hydrogen, and storage solutions. The country also has some of the largest lithium reserves in Europe. This resource (essential for batteries, electric mobility, and energy storage) was highlighted in the Draghi Report as a central part of European strategic autonomy in energy and technology.
In terms of tourism, Portugal remains one of Europe’s most attractive destinations. In 2023, the country welcomed more than 26.5 million tourists, breaking historical records, according to the Instituto Nacional de Estatística (National Statistics Institute). The sector currently accounts for around 15% of national GDP, serving not only as an economic driver but also as an international showcase for hospitality, sustainability, and quality of life.
Portugal is internationally recognized for its safety, ranking 7th in the Global Peace Index 2024. In addition, it has one of the best high-speed internet coverage in Europe, with more than 90% of households connected by fiber optics, according to ANACOM. The mild climate, affordable cost of living, gastronomy, and political stability consolidate the country as an attractive destination to live, invest, and innovate.
Portugal has also made steady progress in science, technology, and innovation. Investment in R&D reached 1.7% of GDP in 2022, the highest figure in recent history, according to the a Direção-Geral de Estatísticas da Educação e Ciência (DGEEC). Lisbon has established itself as one of Europe’s most dynamic technological capitals, a meeting point for emerging startups, international talent, and investment in innovation. At the national level, Portugal has already seen the birth of eight unicorns (technology companies valued at over €1 billion), a sign of an ecosystem with global ambition and increasing maturity.
But the momentum goes beyond entrepreneurship. Portugal is now one of the EU countries with the highest growth in patent registrations per million inhabitants, which indicates a real capacity to transform knowledge into economic value—one of the priorities highlighted in the Draghi report. In higher education, too, the country has been consolidating a solid talent base. Universities such as the Instituto Superior Técnico, the University of Porto, NOVA University Lisbon, and the University of Coimbra are consistently well positioned in international rankings in areas such as engineering, computer science, social sciences, medicine, and management.
Portugal has surprised many with its technological dynamism, but also with its discreet and effective role in European and international diplomacy. In a time of fragmentation and strategic competition, the country has established itself as a bridge between worlds, with a tradition of mediation, cooperation, and consensus building. It is no coincidence that names with global impact have emerged from this country: António Guterres, current Secretary-General of the United Nations; António Costa, chosen to chair the European Council; António Damásio, neurologist, philosopher, and professor at the University of Southern California; Elvira Fortunato, a world-renowned scientist; or Manuel Heitor, an influential voice in European science and innovation policy already mentioned in this article.
For all these reasons, Portugal has the credibility and vision to influence the present and future of Europe. It may not have the economic strength of other Member States, but it has inspiring confidence, the ability to listen, and a constructive attitude toward participation. It is from this combination of talent, technology, diplomacy, and a vocation for unity that more and more solutions are emerging from Portugal, carrying a European DNA and a global impact.
The Quidgest Case
At a time when Europe is debating its technological autonomy and the need for solutions aligned with its values, Quidgest stands out as an example of innovation with a European DNA. Founded 37 years ago in Portugal, and remaining ever since 100% Portuguese and independent, it is now one of the largest software producers in Europe, with a vast, specialized portfolio oriented toward critical sectors – from governments to multinationals and multilateral institutions.
Its approach is unique for several structural reasons. Early on, Quidgest embraced its own vision of digital transformation, based on the automatic generation of software through hybrid generative artificial intelligence (symbolic + neural). Its Genio platform, developed since the 1990s, combines symbolic patterns and neural models to create complex systems with speed, accuracy, and security – without compromising customization or falling into the typical “hallucinations” of other models.
Another differentiating factor is the combination of advanced technical expertise with real-world experience in the sectors where it operates. But perhaps Quidgest’s greatest asset is its talent: multidisciplinary teams that integrate software engineering and business consulting, with deep knowledge of the specific challenges faced by its clients and partners.
With sovereignty, trust, and technological transparency being central themes for Europe, Quidgest’s solutions fully comply with European regulations, ensuring cybersecurity, ethics, and legal compatibility. And they do so with a solid, well-capitalized structure that resists the trend of mergers and acquisitions, preserving a long-term vision and the autonomy to continue serving Europe – and the world – with cutting-edge technology made in Portugal.
The Voice of Leaders
Europe was born from strong leadership. Schuman, Monnet, Adenauer, and De Gasperi – figures who, in the aftermath of a devastating war, dared to propose a union between former enemies. It was their vision that laid the foundations for an unprecedented project: a continent united by treaties and values, not by (re)conquests.
Today, European leadership takes new forms. It no longer depends solely on historic figures or grand declarations. It is expressed in technical decisions, complex negotiations, difficult compromises. And also (perhaps above all) in the ability to listen, to propose concrete solutions to shared problems. In this spirit, we bring together, in the following pages, the contributions of several leaders who think about and build Europe, helping us reflect on crucial issues such as governance, entrepreneurship, health, education, security, the green transition, social inclusion, or diplomacy, to name a few.
Each contribution is a starting point. Together, they form a possible – and necessary – portrait of a Europe that knows how to listen in order to act better. But this debate does not end within these pages, nor at the Q-Day Conference 2025, which we will host under the same theme as this article, “Solutions for Europe”, on September 16 at Culturgest in Lisbon. The construction of Europe is made with all voices.
