VdL-2024-detail-15

Two years into the war in Ukraine, the EU and its partners continue to demonstrate their unity, resilience and capacity to develop. This is in line with Ursula von der Leyen’s definition, when she took office, that she would lead a ‘geopolitical Commission’, which stabilises its neighbourhood, accelerates enlargement and champions multilateralism and a rules-based global order. In her 2023 State of the Union address, the Commission President stressed the need to launch a European defence industrial strategy and to strengthen partnership with Africa. She noted that the response to the Ukraine crisis will determine the EU’s geopolitical status in coming years and the nature of
international relations. Thus, the EU’s main foreign policy priorities are to respond to the military aggression against Ukraine, accelerate enlargement, partner with Africa and support global peace, security and trade.