BRUSSELS (AP) – The European Union’s most powerful official warned Wednesday that Europe is fighting a series of threats raised by Russia, New Global Trade challenges And even other major world forces must assert their independence.
In a speech from the Union, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced new measures to support the battle in Ukraine A full-scale Russian invasionand she called for trade restrictions. Sanctions against Israel War in Gaza.
She also defended the deal she reached with President Donald Trump to limit the impact of his global tariff war, despite agreeing to a 15% obligation rate for most European exports to the United States.
Fight for value
“Europe is on the battle,” von der Leyen told EU lawmakers in Strasbourg, France. “The battle for our values and democracy. The battle for our freedom and the ability to determine our own destiny. Don’t make mistakes. This is the battle for our future.”
“A battle line for a new world order based on power is currently being depicted,” she said, adding that the EU “must fight for its place in a world in which many major forces are ambiguous or openly hostile to Europe.”
“This must be an independence moment for Europe,” the 66-year-old former German defence minister said.
The committee is the executive arm of the EU. It proposes laws that impact the lives of approximately 450 million people in 27 countries and monitors whether those rules are respected.
In recent years, it has helped Europe survive Fallout COVID-19 Pandemicbreaking Russia’s dependence on energy supply and dealing with trade wars launched by traditional allies like the United States
Russia’s attack
Looking at Russia’s war with Ukraine in its fourth year, Von der Leyen said that Russian President Vladimir Putin showed no signs of an ending war, and that “our response must be clear.”
“We need to put more pressure on Russia to come to the negotiation table. We need more sanctions,” she said. The Commission and EU member states are working on new sanctions targeting Russia’s energy revenues.
Poland said on Wednesday Multiple Russian drones In a few hours he entered the territory and was shot down with the help of his NATO allies.
Von Der Leyen condemned “a reckless and unprecedented violation of Polish and European airspace.”
“Europe is in full solidarity with Poland,” she said. “Putin’s message must be clear and our reaction must be clear. More pressure on Russia needs to come to the negotiation table. More sanctions are needed.”
Ukraine’s economy
Von Der Leyen also offers new ways to address Ukraine’s financial challenges. Frozen Russian assets In Europe. Almost 200 billion euros ($235 billion) worth of these assets are held in the Belgian Clearinghouse.
Interest earned on assets (approximately 3.5 billion euros ($4.1 billion) was generated last year, but is already being used to help support the war-torn economy in Ukraine. Von Der Leyen said the “reparation loan” for the damages Russia has been given is heavy.
She also announced the creation of a “drone alliance” with Ukraine. Drones are a critical factor in the war. This is 6 billion euros ($7 billion) in funding for this effort.
Freezing support for Israel
To applause in Parliament, the committee chief said he wanted to freeze financial support for Israel and impose trade restrictions and sanctions on the government over the war in Gaza.
Von der Leyen, who has broken through her traditionally very strong pro-Israel government stance, said the events in Gaza and the suffering of children and families “shaking the conscience of the world.”
“Artificial hunger can never be a weapon of war. For children, for humanity. This has to stop,” she said. She added that the committee will establish a new Palestinian donor group with a focus on future reconstruction of Gaza.
US tariff transactions
Addressing criticism of the tariff contract with Trump, von der Leyen emphasized that Europe relies on the US as its main trading partner, and that European corporate positions have improved compared to other countries that traded worse.
“Millions of jobs depend on,” she said. “And as chairman of the committee, I never wager people’s work or livelihoods.”
