In her annual State of the European Union (SOTEU) speech, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen outlined her vision for the future of the European Union, including that of enlargement while steering clear of any firm commitments.<\/p>\n
The speech focused on several areas, including migration, enlargement, reform, and various policy initiatives.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe future of the Western Balkans is in our Union. The future of Moldova is in our Union. And I know how important the EU perspective is for many residents of Georgia\u2026 In a world where some are trying to pick off countries one by one, we cannot afford to leave our fellow Europeans behind,\u201d Von der Leyen said, adding, \u201cIn a world where size and weight matters, it is clearly in Europe\u2019s strategic and security interests to complete our Union.\u201d<\/p>\n
However, she did not address the recent statement from Council Chief Charles Michel, who said the next bloc enlargement should occur by 2030.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe next enlargement should be a catalyst for progress,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
On migration, von der Leyen discussed efforts to create a new pact for migration and asylum. Migration needs to be managed, balancing the protection of borders and the protection of people, adding that this can be achieved by working with key partners to find a compromise \u201cbetween sovereignty and solidarity, between security and humanity\u201d.<\/p>\n
This balance is the \u201cspirit of the new pact on migration and asylum\u201d she added, about the package of legislative files that the EU institutions aim to approve before the end of the legislative mandate in June 2024.<\/p>\n
\u201cAn agreement on the pact has never been so close,\u201d she said regarding the pact that, if approved, will give the 27 member states the same rules on dealing with immigrants.<\/p>\n
She also pushed a more prominent role for EU agencies, specifically Europol, Eurojust, and Frontex, the EU\u2019s border guard agency. She emphasized the need for enhanced law enforcement cooperation and border security, particularly in the face of global challenges such as human trafficking.<\/p>\n
But von der Leyen steered clear of talking about democracy, despite backsliding across the bloc and candidate countries.<\/p>\n
This was called out by Renew chief Stephane S\u00e9journ\u00e9, who criticized the \u201cfeet dragging\u201d of some member states in condemning declining democracy and the \u201cunanimity poison\u201d that often blocks EU Council decisions.<\/p>\n
On labor and the workforce, von der Leyen noted the current shortages in Europe.<\/p>\n
\u201cLabor and skills shortages are reaching record levels,\u201d von der Leyen said, pointing to how hospitals, manufacturing, and hospitality businesses struggle to find employees.<\/p>\n
\u201cInstead of millions of people looking for jobs, millions of jobs are looking for people,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Von der Leyen stated that together with the other members of the European Commission, they have achieved over 90 percent of the goals she had outlined at the beginning of her mandate in 2019.<\/p>\n
This was von der Leyen\u2019s final address on the state of the EU, but also an indirect start to her pre-election campaign. Specifically, next year in June, European elections will be held, which will result in a new structure in all European institutions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
In her annual State of the European Union (SOTEU) speech, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen outlined her vision for the future of the European Union, including that of enlargement while steering clear of any firm commitments. The speech focused on several areas, including migration, enlargement, reform, and various policy initiatives. \u201cThe future of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":59907,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[165],"tags":[1281,308,788,150,243,151,3133,326],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n