The President of the European Council Charles Michel is ending his five-year mandate as head of the EU physique. In an interview with the European Newsroom (enr) on Thursday, the 48-year-old former Belgian prime minister emphasised the necessity for innovation, setting formidable targets and preserving the EU’s inside unity.
Funding in technical improvement and analysis, cooperation with key areas on this planet, in addition to nurturing consciousness of the EU’s potential and values, ought to play a major half in strengthening the EU’s position on the worldwide stage.
“We’ve got to do every thing to not grow to be the museum of the world,” mentioned Michel, drawing consideration to the necessity for the EU to grow to be extra modern.
“We’ve got demonstrated with this specific undertaking – the European Union – that we now have been capable of promote financial improvement, progress, social cohesion inside the EU.” Extra energy, extra sovereignty and extra affect on this planet – that’s Michel’s imaginative and prescient of the EU on this planet.
Michel sees the best challenges for the way forward for the EU in financial improvement and the growth of European defence capabilities. Nevertheless, migration can be a collective problem, in response to the Belgian politician.
“Don’t lose the help of our individuals”
Michel believes that the important thing level in managing and dealing with the crises and challenges of in the present day is to focus all efforts on retaining the help of the EU residents – citing issues such because the EU enlargement and the Russian battle in Ukraine as examples.
He drew consideration to the necessity for good communication with residents, saying: “We have to clarify what we do, and why we’re appearing that method. We have to clarify why we’re supporting Ukraine, (…) why we should always velocity up the efforts to incorporate new member states, why we have to construct a brand new paradigm when it comes to defence.”
“Let’s make Ukraine stronger, as a result of that makes us stronger as properly”
The EU ought to proceed to help Ukraine militarily and politically in its struggle in opposition to Russian aggression, Michel mentioned, highlighting the Union’s help for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s peace plan, which have to be based mostly on the founding constitution of the United Nations.
He sees the upcoming G20 summit in Brazil as a chance for this. As well as, there was a must proceed to help Kyiv militarily, whereas the EU additionally wanted to extend the capabilities of its defence trade.
Based on Michel, a latest survey confirmed that the EU purchased 80 % of the army tools it provided to Ukraine in the USA of America. Whereas he doesn’t suppose the EU ought to cease shopping for weapons from the US, he acknowledged that there’s a lot of room to strengthen the commercial base in Europe.
The outgoing president of the European Council additionally emphasised the significance of strengthening European defence capabilities within the mild of the presidential elections within the USA, by which present Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris and former Republican President Donald Trump will compete on November 5.
“Donald Trump and, earlier than him, Barack Obama, have been proper after they referred to as on the European NATO allies to allocate two % of their gross home product to defence capabilities,” he mentioned.
“It’s time to enlarge the European Union’s undertaking”
The previous Belgian prime minister referred to as for an acceleration of the European Union enlargement course of, emphasising the strategic must combine international locations of the Western Balkans, Ukraine, and different candidate international locations into the European household.
The European Council president careworn that the EU should put together for future enlargement by inside reforms, whereas sustaining momentum for the accession of candidate international locations, which even have vital work forward of them.
He highlighted that latest geopolitical occasions, together with the battle in Ukraine and challenges within the Western Balkans, make the EU’s fast response much more vital.
“It’s absurd for the EU to not velocity up,” mentioned Michel, citing the necessity for better stability, safety, and prosperity in Europe.
Based on Michel, the EU is engaged on a strategic agenda to higher put together for enlargement. This consists of addressing monetary implications and adjusting decision-making processes to maintain the Union efficient with a bigger variety of members.
The longer the EU delays enlargement, Michel warned, the longer the doorways are stored open for others to use this indecision. To realize the aim of integrating new members into the European Union by 2030, the EU should steadiness inside reforms with the necessity to help the progress of candidate international locations, Michel acknowledged.
“We have to struggle in opposition to unlawful migration and smugglers but in addition open new prospects for authorized migration”
Based on Michel, there may be better unity within the European Union with reference to migration in the present day than there was just a few years in the past.
“If we [the EU heads of state and government] (…) aren’t ready to handle this political problem, why ought to individuals belief us with the opposite challenges,” mentioned the Belgian, who has chaired 46 conferences of EU heads of presidency for the previous 5 years.
Throughout the 2016 so-called migration disaster, belief amongst EU leaders on this situation was destroyed, mentioned Michel. “It was whole chaos and it took a number of years to revive belief.” It has now been doable to agree on an EU migration and asylum legislation that shall be applied within the coming months. Michel conceded that not all international locations have been happy with the choice, which was reached by a professional majority..
“I don’t need that my youngsters will rely on who would be the subsequent president of the USA, who would be the president of China, of Russia”
Concerning the implications of the US elections for relations with the EU, he mentioned that there are undoubtedly variations between the 2 presidential candidates, however on the similar time he requested whether or not the overall path of American overseas coverage below the management of 1 or the opposite would actually be as totally different as some anticipate.
“We shouldn’t take into consideration being afraid as a result of we don’t know who would be the subsequent president of the USA” Michel mentioned. “I don’t need that my youngsters will rely on who would be the subsequent president of the USA, who would be the president of China, of Russia. I need the destiny of my youngsters and great-grandchildren to be of their arms, as a result of in Europe we resolve what our future shall be,” he emphasised.
Charles Michel began his first time period because the European Council President on December 1, 2019. In March 2022, he was re-elected for a second time period of one other 2.5 years. Nevertheless, this was not the primary time he labored with the European Council. In 2014, Michel entered the establishment for the primary time as a Member of the Council, holding the place of Belgium’s Prime Minister. Having ten years of expertise inside the establishment, he’s describing himself as a veteran of the Council.
The European Council unites EU leaders to determine the political path of the EU. It serves as the best type of political collaboration amongst EU nations.
This text is printed twice per week. The content material is predicated on information by companies taking part within the enr.
