No longer able to point toward shared prosperity as its raison d'être, the EU is floundering in its search for a new narrative – one that convinces citizens and member states that European integration still has real value. A strategy that focuses not only on how the world impacts the EU, but also on how European values and interests can and should be projected abroad would provide a rallying cry, a broader mission, and a clear purpose.
事实上，这样的外部视角至关重要。目前的欧元危机已经夺走了支撑一体化进程数十载的理由。因为共同繁荣不能再作为存在价值，欧盟正在苦苦挣扎着寻找一种新的说法——以便说服民众和成员国欧洲一体化依然具有实际价值。这项战略不仅关注世界如何影响欧盟，而且关注欧盟价值观和利益应当如何投射到海外，这将为欧盟吹响集结号，明确欧盟更广阔的使命以及明确的目标。