In her Charlemagne Prize acceptance speech, von der Leyen stated that Europe must chart its own course without relying on the United States or other geopolitical actors.
“I am deeply convinced that history is calling on us now, just as in 1989, when the wind of change swept over Europe,” she said.
Besides drastically increasing defense spending to deter military threats, the EC president said the EU must expand to include Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, and Western Balkan countries. She also spoke about the need to reinforce European democratic institutions to avoid further corrosion from both external and internal malign influence.
“We are doing this because we want to defend peace with all our strength,” von der Leyen said.
“By the end of this decade, a new international order will emerge. If we do not want to simply suffer its consequences for Europe and the world, we must shape that order ourselves.”
Ukraine’s EU accession has stalled as Hungary, led by pro-Russian PM Viktor Orban, continues to veto negotiating the details of Ukrainian membership.