![](\"https:\/\/ziardesuceava.ro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/77635.jpeg\")
<\/div>\nH.E. Ion JINGA, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Permanent Representative Council of Europe.<\/p>\n
Motto:<\/span>\u201cA great tradition can be inherited, but In The At the end of the The third major event was the Munich Security Conference, on Traditionally, A On 13 An event of At the Board of Peace meeting, From Physics and Philosophy, we know that the\u00a0Law\u00a0of Post Scriptum:<\/span> I took inspiration for the title of this
\ngreatness itself must be won.\u201d<\/span> \u2013 Sir Winston Churchill<\/p>\n
\na span of just 30 days, four major international events with the potential to
\nshape the world took place. The first was the World Economic Forum in Davos,
\nSwitzerland, on 19-23 January 2026. The Davos Forum is uniquely
\npowerful because of its ability to gather the people who move the world in one
\nspace. This year, its theme was \u201cA Spirit of Dialogue\u201d,<\/span> and the
\nparticipation of the President of the United States, Donald J. Trump, created a
\nglobal visibility, with over 3,000 attendees \u2013 including more than 60 heads of
\nstate and government, heads of nearly all major international organizations,
\nand more than 1,000 CEOs from around the world. In a time when
\nuncertainty has become the new normal,the Forum facilitated the making of history by creating the
\nconditions for key-actors to exchange on some of the most consequential
\nquestions of our age.Davos
\n2026 probably foreshadowed global developments for the next decade (I wrote
\nabout this in the article \u201cWhen
\nthe Tectonic Plates of Geopolitics Move\u201d).<\/span><\/p>\n
\nsecond moment I am referring to is the informal retreat of the European
\nUnion leaders at Alden-Biesen Castle, Belgium, on 12 February 2026. The heads
\nof state or government of the EU countries usually meet formally in the
\nEuropean Council format but, as debates on the EU\u2019s future\u00a0intensifies, the
\nPresident of the European Council, Ant\u00f3nio Costa,
\nintroduced informal \u201cretreats\u201d <\/span>\u2013
\nmeetings designed to let leaders brainstorm without the pressure of reaching
\nconclusions. This year the focus was on how to\u00a0deepen the single market,\u00a0reduce economic dependencies\u00a0and\u00a0boost competitiveness. An important topic referred to the
\nenergy transition, considered as the best long-term strategy for Europe to
\nachieve strategic autonomy. The \u201ctwo\u2011speed
\nEurope\u201d<\/span> proposal (aiming to advance reforms by bypassing the unanimity vote),
\nand the so-called \u201cEuropean preference\u201d\u00a0<\/span>(which would favor domestic companies in strategic sectors) were also tackled. <\/p>\n
\nmeeting, Ant\u00f3nio Costa summed up the political message: \u201cWe have a clear priority: to strengthen economic growth in Europe.
\nThis is essential for our prosperity, to create quality jobs, and to sustain
\nour economic social model. We hold a powerful card: our single market. With 450
\nmillion consumers, it is Europe\u2019s true superpower and we must use it to the
\nfullest potential\u201d. Participant in the retreat, the President of Romania, Nicu\u0219or Dan, remarked:
\n\u201cThere was an agreement of all the
\nparticipants, that we do not want a market that is protectionist in Europe.
\nInstead, in response to certain non-competitive practices, Europe needs to
\nrespond very quickly to protect certain sectors of its economy\u2026 Europe with multiple speeds,
\nor at least as the idea stands at the moment, is simply a meeting in which
\ncountries that have certain ideas coordinate in order to put together a
\nproposal on the European Council\u2019s table. There should be no concern here\u201d.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
\n14-16 February \u2013 the most important annual summit in the field of security and
\ndefense, with more than 1,000 delegates \u2013 including 61 heads of
\nstate and government, and 101 foreign and defense ministers.
\nAs Ambasador Wolfgang Ischinger, the Chairman of the Conference and a legend of
\nGerman diplomacy, noted: \u201cRarely in the
\nconference\u2019s recent history have there been so many fundamental questions on
\nthe table at the same time: about Europe\u2019s security, the resilience of the
\ntransatlantic partnership, and the ability of the international community to
\nmanage an increasingly complex and contested world\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nbefore the conference starts, the Munich Security Report is published. This
\nyear the report has the title \u201cUnder
\nDestruction\u201d<\/span>, and concludes: \u201cMany people perceive their
\npolitical systems and international institutions as incapable of addressing
\nmounting global risks and of managing the challenges that come with economic
\ntransformations and technological change\u2026 Decision-makers are widely seen as
\nguardians of the status quo, administering paralyzed political systems that
\nappear unresponsive to the majority of people. Key institutions of the
\ninternational order have come to be seen as rigid and unresponsive\u2026 Relying on sterile communiques,
\npredictable conferences and cautious diplomacy is a recipe for failure\u201d. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
\nsimilar perception is noticed with regard the trust in the rule of law. In an
\ninterview for the Romanian newspaper Adev\u0103rul, on 8 February 2026, Judge
\nMatthias Guyomar, the President of the European Court of Human Rights \u2013 a fundamental
\ninstitution of the Council of Europe \u2013 pointed out: \u201cAll judges, the entire judicial system,
\nare currently facing a growing distrust or lack of trust from the people. And
\nwe need to address this situation. I am talking about the erosion of people\u2019s
\nadherence to the rule of law system. And this is really worrying. It is the
\nsame everywhere, not only in Europe. There is a general concern about how to
\nconvince people, how to offer an attractive and positive narrative to convince
\nthem that the functioning of the courts is not against democracy, against popular
\nsovereignty. On the contrary, they function to support the daily life of
\nsociety. They work to defend the concrete rights of people. And by doing this,
\nthe courts support democracy. Judges are part of the democratic system. These challenges
\nrequire innovation; they require more transparency. We must also be prepared to
\ncommunicate and explain our work. And in the end, our common ideals, peace and
\njustice, will prevail\u201d. <\/span><\/p>\n
\nFebruary, the Chancellor of Germany, Friedrich
\nMerz,
\nwrote in Foreign Affairs magazine: \u201cThe return to power politics cannot be
\nexplained solely by the rivalries among major powers. This new dynamic also
\nreflects the turmoil and unrest within societies where new technologies are
\ndriving revolutionary change\u2026 We must realize that in this era of great-power
\npolitics, our freedom is no longer a given. Preserving it will take
\ndetermination, and we must be ready for change, hard work, and even sacrifice\u2026We must curb the proliferation of
\nEuropean bureaucracy and regulation. Europe\u2019s standards must not immobilize us
\nin global competition but should fuel innovation and entrepreneurship,
\nencourage investment, and reward creativity\u201d<\/span> (\u201cHow to Avert the
\nTragedy of Great-Power Politics\u201d<\/span>). The Munich Security Conference
\nconfirmed that Europe is accelerating strategic adaptation to reduce
\nvulnerabilities in an increasingly hectic environment. It also showed that the
\ntransatlantic partnership remains strong. Before
\nleaving for Germany, the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters: \u201cThe old
\nworld is gone and we are living in a new era in geopolitics, and that will
\nrequire all of us to reconsider what that looks like and what our role is going
\nto be\u201d.<\/span>Then, in Munich, he said: \u201cWe want Europe to be strong, as the two great wars of the last
\ncentury serve as historical lessons, a constant reminder that, ultimately, our
\ndestiny is and will always be intertwined with yours\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nglobal impact took place on 19 February 2026 \u2013 the first meeting of the Board of Peace. An initiative of the
\nPresident of the United States and endorsed\u00a0by the UN Security
\nCouncil resolution 2803 (2025), to implement the US-led 20-point Gaza Peace
\nPlan, the Board of Peace is a remarkable innovation in international
\naffairs. Representatives from around 50 countries and the European
\nCommission attended the inaugural meeting in Washington D.C., as members or observers. Addressing the
\nparticipants, President Donald Trump announced that a total of 17 billion
\ndollars has been pledged for relief and reconstruction in Gaza: \u201cEvery dollar spent is an investment in
\nstability and hope. Together we can achieve the dream of bringing
\nlasting harmony to a region tortured by centuries of war. With the commitments
\nannounced today, the Board of Peace is proving that it does not just convene
\ncountries, it devises and implements and real solutions happen\u2026 And we\u2019re very closely working
\nwith the United Nations\u201d.<\/span>The World Bank
\nwill manage the donations and disburse them under the Board of Peace direction.
\nSeveral countries made pledges to send troops for a
\nGaza stabilization force, while others committed to train police \u2013 the newly
\ncreated international stabilization force is expected to have 12,000 police and
\n20,000 soldiers.<\/p>\n
\nPresident Nicu\u0219or Dan reaffirmed Romania\u2019s support to the peace process in Gaza:\u201cI spoke today in Washington at the inaugural Board of Peace meeting
\nchaired by the US President Donald Trump. Without peace and security, there can
\nbe no prosperity for our citizens. In this regard, Romania supports the efforts
\nof the US and the international community to resolve global conflicts,
\nincluding in the Middle East, and our presence as an observer in the Board of
\nPeace allows us to be part of the talks and negotiations\u2026 I remain a strong
\nsupporter of transatlantic cooperation between the United States and the
\nEuropean Union based on a constant and open dialogue. This balanced approach is
\nthe one that brings the most benefits to our country, for which freedom,
\ndemocracy and the rule of law remain the fundamental coordinates\u201d. <\/span><\/p>\n
\nCause-and-Effect is one of the fundamental\u00a0principles\u00a0governing
\nour understanding of the universe \u2013 nothing
\never happens without a cause or without a succession of causes, and
\nfor every action, there is a reaction. This
\nprinciple applies at all levels \u2013 nations, governments, societies,
\ncorporations, institutions, or individuals. Politics is intrinsically
\ntied to the causes of change in society, as it involves forces, events, and
\nideologies that influence how power is distributed, and how societies function.
\nThe four major moments evoked in this article are political events having in
\ncommon the search for solutions to fundamental challenges our world faces. If
\nproblems are common, then solutions must be common. And if both problems and
\nsolutions are common, then their causes are intertwined. Historically, structural changes like
\nthose we are seeing now only come around once in a century and may be
\ndisruptive. But disruptions are not always destructive. When exceptional
\nsituations require exceptional measures, they can be a catalyst for new construction.<\/p>\n
\narticle from the memoir \u201cTimes to
\nRemember\u201d<\/span> by Rose
\nFitzgerald Kennedy, the mother
\nof President John F. Kennedy, because today just like in her time history is
\nbeing written before our eyes, and we are living times to remember. As the former UN Secretary General Dag
\nHammarskjold \u2013 whom President Kennedy called \u201cthe greatest statesman of our century\u201d <\/span>\u2013 once said: \u201cDo not look back. And do not dream about
\nthe future, either. It will neither give you back the past, nor satisfy your
\nother dreams. Your duty, your reward \u2013 your destiny \u2013 are here and now\u201d.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n