Faced with Russian or Chinese threats, the European Commission insists: “This is the time to invest in the power of democracies. This work begins with the core group of our like-minded partners: our friends in every single democratic nation on this globe”, said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in her State of the Union address on Wednesday 14 September.
From the closest to the furthest away, the President considers firstly that the EU candidate countries should be supported. “I want the people of the Western Balkans, Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia to know: You are part of our family, your future is in our Union, and our Union is not complete without you”.
In June, the European Council granted candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova and “recognised the European perspective” of Georgia (see EUROPE 12978/1). The President did not give further details on the progress towards enlargement.
She also said that she supported the idea of a European Political Community (see EUROPE 12955/24), and the European Commission should set out such ideas to the European Council.
Using the ‘Global Gateway’
Beyond neighbours, Ms von der Leyen stressed the need to engage with countries further afield to tackle major global challenges. This requires an increased presence and investment abroad and, therefore, the ‘Global Gateway’ initiative (see EUROPE 12844/7). The EU needs to invest in Africa and Latin America to counter other influences such as China.
The President announced that she and US President Joe Biden would convene a leaders’ meeting “to review and announce implementation projects” for major investments.
Strengthening trade
In her view, the President recalled the importance of having a variety of trading partners. “We must avoid returning to situations of dependence such as for gas and oil. This is where trade policy comes in”.
She assured MEPs that she would push for ratifying trade agreements with Chile, Mexico and New Zealand. Negotiations on the latter were formally concluded in June (see EUROPE 12984/10). For Chile and Mexico, negotiations are technically completed, but a formal conclusion has not yet occurred.
The President did not mention the trade agreement with the Mercosur countries, which is less ambitious than the one with New Zealand (see EUROPE 13017/20).
Nor did she address relations with China in her speech. Asked about this by Reinhard Bütikofer (Greens/EFA, German), Chair of the European Parliament’s Delegation for relations with the People’s Republic of China, she simply replied: “The fact that China and Russia signed a contract of unlimited friendship, this is telling enough.
Read the European Commission’s letter of intent: https://aeur.eu/f/32b (Original version in French by Léa Marchal)