Europe’s Bid for Self-Reliance Overlooks Need for Human Capital

The European Union’s quest for industrial sovereignty is undermined by the bloc’s own hostility to foreigners.

The 27-nation economy has launched a series of policy initiatives aimed at reducing its reliance on complex supply chains in what it sees as an increasingly hostile world. From boosting recycling of critical raw materials, to subsidizing battery production at home, the EU makes little effort these days to hide its ambition for self-sufficiency.