Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has called for Europe to be even more engaged on the world stage in the face of current challenges in a speech to EU Ambassadors.
First, Ukraine needs a just and lasting peace, based on President Zelenskyy’s Peace Formula. Ukraine should become a member of the European Union to strengthen and protect it in the future, President von der Leyen stressed.
Speaking of the crisis in the Middle East, she reconfirmed that the EU stood in full solidarity with the people of Israel. The hostages should be released immediately, she said, and we also have to do ”everything possible to protect civilians”. Humanitarian aid to Gaza will be topped up with €25 million and the EU is working on getting more aid into Gaza through existing and new routes. The President set out several principles to discuss peace:
- Gaza cannot be a safe haven for terrorists and can thus not be controlled by Hamas.
- Israeli security forces should not stay in or block Gaza.
- Palestinians should not be forced to leave Gaza.
With regards to China, the EU will continue to talk and work with China on common challenges like climate change and to make sure its support to Russia remains as limited as possible. “Our rivalry can be constructive, not hostile”, President von der Leyen said, stressing that China also needed to respect the global rules-based system.
Once a year, EU diplomats representing the EU all over the world come together in Brussels to discuss EU foreign policy, its current and future developments. There are 145 EU Delegations and Offices around the world and Commission Representations in all 27 EU Member States.
For more information
A stronger Europe in the World
- Publication date
- 6 November 2023
- Author
- Directorate-General for Communication
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