The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, believes that the European Union must be prepared to assert more of its power in a world that has become more unstable, stating that the international system "based on rules" is no longer sufficient to guarantee European security and interests.
Speaking at a conference of European Union ambassadors in Brussels, she said the EU would continue to defend multilateralism and international norms, but could no longer rely exclusively on this framework to deal with new threats.
"We will always defend and support the rules-based system that we helped build with our allies, but we can no longer rely on it as the sole means of defending our interests," she said.
According to her, the rapid transformations of the geopolitical context are forcing the European Union to reassess its structures and decision-making methods. The institutions and political mechanisms designed in the post-war period, a time marked by stability and multilateralism, must now be adapted to a more conflictual international environment.
The Commission President also called for reflection on the geopolitical credibility of the Union. She questioned whether the current mechanisms of consensus and compromise actually strengthen the EU's capacity for action or whether they limit its effectiveness in the face of international crises.
These statements come amid growing geopolitical tensions, including the war in Ukraine, rivalries between major powers and conflicts in the Middle East, which are pushing the European Union to strengthen its strategic capacity and defense policy.
