European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said that EU enlargement is no longer a wish but a “geopolitical necessity.”
Speaking at an event in Hamburg to mark the 80th anniversary of the Die Zeit newspaper, she stressed that Europe must act on a larger scale to prevent the region from falling under the influence of other powers.
“We must complete the shaping of the European continent so that it does not fall under the influence of Russia, Turkey, or China. We must think in a broader geopolitical perspective,” von der Leyen said.
The old model of Europe, based on cheap energy from Russia, cheap labor from China, and security guarantees from the United States, is no longer viable, the president of the European Commission said. That era is over, she said, and Europe must now build its own strength and expand its circle of allies to meet new challenges.
Separately, she addressed decision-making in the EU, stating that it is necessary to abandon the unanimity principle, especially in foreign policy. According to her, the Council of Foreign Ministers should switch to majority voting to enable Europe to make decisions faster and more effectively.
Speaking about energy policy, von der Leyen noted that, along with renewable energy, nuclear energy is also necessary, adding: “It was a mistake to abandon nuclear energy.”
She also emphasized the need for a pan-European approach to protecting children in the digital environment, calling for strengthened measures against social networks and online platforms.
