ETUI policy brief: Europe’s open strategic autonomy This policy brief argues that open strategic autonomy policies should take socioeconomic and environmental aspects on board from the design stage onwards, rather than merely integrating them ex post in existing policies. Public acceptance of related policies and initiatives will be boosted if they are designed to support citizens and workers during the digital and green transitions, promote European fundamental rights and values, protect the environment and biodiversity to reduce ecological footprints and influence other global actors to do the same via international agreements that incorporate social and environmental considerations. The Recovery and Resilience Plans seem to offer a window of opportunity for member states to implement strategic reforms and investments that might advance the EU’s open strategic autonomy. They would improve socioeconomic resilience and support member states in leading the green and digital transitions. But how well they will be implemented remains to be seen.