For a few months now, we seem to be living in a new world. The unusual is normal. Every morning I wake up and wonder what the news will bring us. Nothing seems predictable anymore.

The US President's import duties are tumbling over each other. All continents are affected, including deserted islands. Whether the import duties on products from the European Union will remain at 10% or will increase is not yet entirely clear. The EU will maintain its own countermeasures for a while and will probably negotiate. These are major changes.

This current situation also offers new opportunities for more European cooperation. According to ECB President Christine Lagarde, European member states can compensate for the impact of the new tariff walls by trading more with each other. And there is certainly something to be said for that. For years, there have been calls for more cooperation, investment in the internal market and strengthening our democracy, so that we become less dependent on third parties. The changed world stage now creates a greater sense of urgency in the EU to actually do something about this and to put our shoulders to the wheel.

Strengthening companies and organisations in Europe and working together more. Relying more on our own strengths, without becoming protectionist and closing the shutters. With courage and responsibility. That sounds like a great challenge.

For me, that can be done with a lot of sobriety, not navel-gazing, step by step and solution-oriented. Because how did that saying go again? Exactly, 'only calmness can save you!'

By means of Marije Laffeber