Charles Michel, former permanent chairman of the European Union (EU) summit who will attend the 26th..

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Charles Michel, former permanent president of the EU Summit. The photo shows him speaking at a joint press conference for the Korea-EU summit held at the presidential office building in Yongsan, Seoul in 2023. [Photo source = Yonhap News]

Charles Michel, former permanent chairman of the European Union (EU) summit who will attend the 26th World Knowledge Forum, reiterated cooperation between South Korea and Europe. It is argued that Europe, which is in crisis due to Russia’s threat and the US’s “America First” policy, should create strategic relations with South Korea, Japan, and even China, starting with multilateralism. The Mail Business interviewed him exclusively, who will attend this year’s World Knowledge Forum as a speaker.

Former Speaker Michel warned of the threat of war. “I have been communicating with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky since the outbreak of the war,” he said. “I recognized that Russia’s threat was not a bluff, and I was not surprised when the actual war broke out.” “Europe is now facing the greatest danger since World War II,” he said, stressing that “the invasion of Ukraine is a threat to continental Europe and even the world.”

In particular, he was wary of Russia’s fake news, which is the nature of a pre-war according to the European movement, and suggested a principle of a ceasefire. “The Kremlin is spreading false claims,” former chairman Michel said. “Ukraine’s accession to NATO before the outbreak of the war was not subject to discussion, and after the outbreak of the war, Sweden and Finland quickly joined NATO and accelerated the EU’s expansion strategy, including Ukraine.” “The peace agreement should be based on the free sovereign choice of the Ukrainian people and the principles of the UN Charter,” he pointed out.

He also argued that Europe, which is facing a defense cost burden and an energy crisis, will become stronger again in the wake of this war. “Russia tried to divide Europe with energy as a weapon, but this attempt will eventually fail,” he said. “Europe is expanding its joint energy infrastructure projects, which will be a strong economic and geopolitical tool in the future.”

He also expressed confidence that the EU will revive despite economic polarization and Brexit controversy in Europe. Former Chairman Michel said, “The will to join the EU comes from countries and people who crave greater freedom, respect for the rule of law, and economic and social opportunities,” adding, “The economic capacity of candidates from new member states such as the Western Balkans, Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia will also be strengthened.” It is a belief that the precedent of the growth of countries that have joined the EU in the past through economic aid will be reproduced again and that the history of European integration that has been going on for the past 75 years will continue.

“In Europe, visionary leaders gathered to make a courageous decision after the end of World War II,” former Chairman Michel said. “It was a conviction that they had more in common than disagreement.” “If you look at the 1950 Ximang Declaration, it is surprising that economic cooperation was used as a tool for political reconciliation, peace building, and creating transnational institutions,” he said. “This was an ambitious idea beyond simple economic projects.”

The Ximang Declaration announced by French Foreign Minister Robert Ximang on May 9, 1950, is a proposal for joint management of coal and steel in Europe, which is mentioned as the beginning of European integration. It co-managed war supplies to prevent conflicts and provide the starting point for Europe to be reborn as an economic community. Since then, the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) has been launched, becoming the birthplace of the EU. In 1985, the European Council designated May 9 as ‘Europe Day’.

Europe is expected to unite on its own and move toward Korea, Japan, and China on the basis of multilateralism. The EU is essentially based on economic and social welfare values, and security relied on NATO and the United States, former Chairman Michel said. “Cooperation with Indo-Pacific countries such as Korea and Japan is becoming important due to China’s ambitions, Russia’s war, and U.S. priority.”

He also indicated his intention to further cooperate with BRICs countries. “We live in a multipolar world and need an effective multilateralist system,” Michel said. “We are urging China to put pressure on Russia to end the war.”

Citing a recent Victory Day event in Beijing, China, he pointed out that adversaries are gathering more as the U.S. causes a tariff war and weakens relations with allies. The EU will strengthen cooperation with emerging countries and reset relations with China based on human rights, democratic values, economic relations adjustment, and security, former Chairman Michel explained.

Former Chairman Michel emphasized the need for cooperation with South Korea in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) following health, defense, and energy. “We are experiencing a phenomenal revolution called AI, and this innovation is inflating its enormous potential for productivity, but at the same time, it poses serious challenges to human society, including freedom,” he pointed out.

In particular, “data and algorithms are tools of power and hybrid weapons,” he said. “We need to protect data and preserve humanity while taking advantage of the opportunities provided by the AI revolution.” He added, “AI is a key task that Europe and South Korea can solve together.”

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