Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine and the shift in US priorities in light of China’s rise are forcing the EU to focus on its own strategy of economic independence, security, and defense.
As reported by the Ukrinform correspondent, the priority directions for future European Council decisions were outlined by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, speaking to members of the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
This week the European Council is confronting the reality of today. The reality of a world that has become a dangerous world of wars, a world of predators. The reality is that we, Europeans, must defend ourselves and rely on ourselves
– Ursula von der Leyen
Context and Challenges for the EU
According to von der Leyen, Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 marked the latest troubling wake-up call.
None of us should be shocked by what others say about Europe. This is not the first time such assumptions have proven outdated. Yes, Europe has lost a share of global GDP from 25% in 1990 to 14% today. But the figures for the United States are following the same path. The US has also lost its share of global GDP – from 22% in 1990 to 14% now. So this is not a story about the economy on one side of the Atlantic or the other. It’s a story about changes in the global economy
– Ursula von der Leyen
In von der Leyen’s view, the United States has signaled a shift in its strategic interests and priorities in light of China’s rise, whose share of global GDP has risen from 4% in 1990 to 20% today.
Therefore, our task at this week’s summit is to show that we are focused on our own strategy, our own interests and our own priorities. This is a moment of Europe’s independence. From defense to energy – we have made the impossible possible within our new reality
– Ursula von der Leyen
Von der Leyen noted progress in Europe’s energy independence, its rejection of Russian fossil fuels and the reduction of imports of Russian gas, both liquefied and pipeline, from 45% at the start of the war to 13% now, and crude oil imports – from 26% at the start of the war to 2% today.
This year we did more for defense than in the last decades. In the last ten years we invested 8 billion euros in the Defence Fund. This year we enabled up to 800 billion euros of investments by 2030. And we see how crowded our SAFE programme is, demand for which from 19 member states quickly exceeded 150 billion euros on the table. And this demonstrates our commitment to European security
– Ursula von der Leyen
In Brussels, a European Council meeting is expected on 18–19 December, where the main topics will be financing Ukraine’s needs for the next two years, European security, and the EU’s multiannual financial framework for 2028–2034.
The shift of the EU toward strategic independence is evident: from energy autonomy to defense self-sufficiency – this is a component of the continent’s new reality.