Von der Leyen calls EU enlargement a “core priority” for her new Commission in 2024-2029
Presenting her programme to the European Parliament today as head of the European Commission for 2024-2029, Ursula von der Leyen began her speech with “the spine-tingling moments” from her previous cadence. She said, among other moments, she will never forget “the appearances of President Zelenskyy when even the translators could not hold back their tears”.
Among her priorities for the future, she named support for Ukraine “for as long as it takes”, “a just and lasting peace for a free and independent country”, and EU investments in its security and defence.
“Russia is still on the offensive in East Ukraine. They are banking on a war of attrition, on making the next winter even harsher than the last. Russia is banking on Europe and the West going soft. And some, in Europe, are playing along,” von der Leyen said, recalling that two weeks ago “an EU Prime Minister went to Moscow”.
“This so-called peace mission was nothing but an appeasement mission. Only two days later, Putin’s jets aimed their missiles at a children’s hospital and maternity ward in Kyiv. We all saw the images of children covered in blood, and mothers trying to bring young cancer patients to safety. That strike was not a mistake. It was a message. A chilling message from the Kremlin to all of us,” von der Leyen said.
Speaking about EU enlargement, von der Leyen said it would be a “core priority” for her Commission. She added that the Commission would support candidates by working on investment and reforms and integrating them “where we can” into the EU’s legal frameworks, and would ensure that “all countries are ready, before joining”.
“History is calling once again. The Western Balkans, Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia have made their free choice. They have chosen freedom over oppression. They have chosen democracy over dependency. And some of them are paying a high price for this choice. So we must make our choice, and show steadfast commitment. Their future will be free and prosperous, inside our Union,” von der Leyen said.
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