21.04.2026 01:51
A warning has been issued to member states by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Stating that the expansion of the EU is a geopolitical necessity and that she supports it, von der Leyen said, "We must succeed in completing the European continent so that it does not fall under the influence of Russia, Turkey, or China. We need to think bigger and more geopolitically."
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, stated that the expansion of the EU is a geopolitical necessity and that the region should not be left to Russian, Turkish, or Chinese influence.
Speaking at the 80th anniversary event of Die Zeit newspaper in Hamburg, von der Leyen emphasized her support for the EU's expansion, saying, "We must succeed in completing the European continent so that it does not fall under Russian, Turkish, or Chinese influence. We need to think bigger and more geopolitically.”
“WE MUST BE MORE INDEPENDENT” Von der Leyen noted that Europe has followed a model based on cheap energy from Russia, cheap labor from China, and security support from the United States until now, but that this era has come to an end.
Emphasizing that the EU needs to rebuild its own security and economic power, von der Leyen stated, “We must completely reposition ourselves. We must be more independent.”
Ursula von der Leyen "THE PRINCIPLE OF UNANIMITY MUST CHANGE" Addressing the decision-making processes within the EU, von der Leyen argued that the principle of unanimity, especially in foreign policy, needs to be changed.
Calling for a shift to majority voting in the Council of Foreign Ministers, von der Leyen expressed that Europe needs to be able to make decisions more quickly and effectively.
“GIVING UP NUCLEAR ENERGY WAS A MISTAKE” In her evaluations regarding energy policies, von der Leyen stated that nuclear energy is necessary alongside renewable sources. Von der Leyen said, “Giving up nuclear energy was a mistake.”
On the other hand, von der Leyen expressed the need for a common European approach to protect children in the digital world, noting that stronger measures should be taken against social media and online platforms.