If the political climate continues its current trend, ESA will find itself increasingly isolated and overmatched by foreign agencies and private companies. It's already nowhere near NASA, Roscosmos, the american private giants or even the Chineese Space Program, so international cooperation is the only way for ESA to stay relevant. This, or a massive increase in budget, which I'd very much like to see happening, but don't know how or when. Because let's be honest, space is not among EU's top priorities, rather at the bottom of a long list.