The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has urged to open a deep debate on possible reforms in the way the European Union responds to international conflicts. She did so during the annual meeting of the community diplomatic corps, a key gathering to define the strategic priorities of European foreign policy.
In her speech, the president stated that it is necessary to reflect on “whether our doctrine, our institutions and our decision-making process are still up to current challenges”. With these words, Von der Leyen raised the need to review the functioning of European external action in an increasingly unstable and competitive international context.
A world different from the one that shaped the current international order
For Von der Leyen, Europe cannot continue acting solely as the guardian of an international system that no longer exists in the same terms. In her opinion, the rules-based global order is undergoing a profound transformation that forces the European Union to adapt.
“The continent cannot remain as the guardian of a world that has disappeared and will not return,” he noted. Although he reiterated that the Union will continue defending the rules-based international system, he also warned that it is no longer enough to rely exclusively on that framework to protect European interests.
“We will always defend and maintain the rules-based system, but we can no longer count on that system as the sole means to defend our interests”, has stated.
The debate on unanimity in foreign policy
In Brussels, they are aware that this message may be uncomfortable for some Member States. Community sources acknowledge that it is “a difficult conversation to hear and a complicated conversation to have”, but consider the debate inevitable. From the community institutions, they argue that, if the European Union wants to develop a more realistic foreign policy based on the defense of strategic interests, it must also have institutional mechanisms that allow it to be applied effectively.
In this regard, Von der Leyen has raised a central question for the future of European diplomacy: whether the requirement of unanimity in foreign policy decisions is really a useful tool or, on the contrary, an obstacle to the geopolitical credibility of the Union. According to the President of the European Commission, the debate should focus on analyzing whether this system facilitates external action or if it limits Europe's capacity for reaction in an international context marked by increasingly rapid and complex crises.
Avoid sterile debates about the conflict in Iran
During the same intervention, Von der Leyen has also asked not to divert attention towards debates that, in her opinion, do not help to understand the seriousness of the international situation. In particular, she has warned against the temptation to focus the discussion on whether the conflict in Iran should be interpreted as a chosen war or as a necessary war. For the President of the Commission, this type of approach can divert attention from the truly relevant elements.
In his opinion, focusing on that discussion would mean “losing sight of the essential”. Therefore, he has insisted that Europe must analyze the current geopolitical reality with a pragmatic and strategic perspective. “Europe must focus on the reality of the situation and see the world as it is today,” he pointed out.
The economic and strategic repercussions of the conflict
The European Commission still maintains uncertainty about the full extent of the consequences that the conflict may cause, although it recognizes that some repercussions are already beginning to be perceived. From the Community Executive, they fear that the crisis could affect key sectors for the European economy, such as energy, finance, and international trade. Furthermore, they warn that it could also have effects on the mobility of people and migratory dynamics, especially if the regional situation deteriorates.
However, beyond the immediate impact, in Brussels they consider that the long-term consequences could raise existential questions for the European project, especially in areas related to security, strategic autonomy, and economic stability.
Europe cannot isolate itself from the world
In her speech, Von der Leyen has also rejected the idea that Europe can protect itself simply by withdrawing from international tensions. “The idea that we can simply isolate ourselves and withdraw from this chaotic world is simply a mistake”, the German leader stated before the diplomatic audience, which is preparing to define the priorities of European foreign policy for the coming year.
According to the President of the Commission, European credibility depends on its ability to actively defend its interests using all available tools. Among them, she mentioned the weight of the European market, trade policy, and economic security instruments. In this regard, she highlighted that the European Union has already demonstrated firmness in some recent moments when Member States have been put to the test. As an example, she cited the case of Denmark in relation to Greenland, a situation in which, as she pointed out, the community bloc showed unity and political support.
More resilience, sovereignty and capacity for action
Looking ahead to next year, Brussels' strategic objective will be to strengthen the resilience, sovereignty, and strength of the European bloc. These priorities cover very diverse areas, ranging from defense and energy to access to critical raw materials and the development of strategic technologies. For Von der Leyen, independence in today's world does not mean isolation, but rather avoiding excessive dependencies on a single supplier in key sectors.
Among the areas in which the European Union must reduce vulnerabilities, he/she/it has cited energy, defense, semiconductors, vaccines, clean technologies and the supply of critical raw materials.
In this context, the President of the Commission has argued that the European Union must strengthen its capacity to project economic, technological, and strategic power when necessary. “We must be prepared to project our power more firmly to counteract foreign aggressions and interferences,” concluded the leader of the community Executive.