Europe risks losing freedom says Draghi

(ANSA) - BRUSSELS, SEP 17 - Former Italian premier and former European Central Bank (ECB) president Mario Draghi warned that Europe is in danger of losing its freedom as he presented his report on reviving the bloc's competitiveness to the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Tuesday.
    "We are all anxious about the future of Europe," Draghi said.
    "My worry is not that we will suddenly find ourselves poor and subservient to others - we still have many strengths in Europe.
    "It is that, over time, it will inexorably become a less prosperous, less equal place, a less safe one and that, as a consequence, we will be less free to choose our destiny".
    He said transforming the economy to make it carbon zero is not necessarily in conflict with competitiveness, but there is a risk of this.
    "If Europe's ambitious climate goals are accompanied by a coherent plan to achieve them, decarbonisation will be an opportunity for Europe," he said.
    "But if we fail to coordinate our policies, there is a risk that the 'Green agenda' could go against competitiveness".
    He also said it was necessary to boost the EU's defence capacities.
    "For Europe to remain free, we must be more independent," he said.
    "We need to have more secure supply chains for critical raw materials and technologies.
    "We must increase European production capacity in strategic sectors and expand our industrial capacity for defense and for space.
    "Peace is Europe's first and main objective within its own borders and abroad and we must continue in this constant effort.
    "Security threats, however, are increasing and we must prepare".
    (ANSA).