"The war against Ukraine is a pivotal moment for Europe. And we must meet this moment," said Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, speaking at the GLOBSEC 2023 Bratislava Forum on 31 May 2023. In her speech, she focused on Ukraine's resistance to Russia's aggression and the continued EU support. She also outlined a new 4-pillar plan for the Western Balkans, stressing the EU's responsibility to bring the countries who aspire to EU membership 'much closer' to the Union.
President von der Leyen reiterated the EU's strong support for Ukraine's independence and sovereignty, saying that we can and must stand firmly by the side of Ukrainian people 'for as long as it takes'.
She spoke of the recent EU's announcement to ramp up its defence industry production of ammunition and of support to train Ukrainian servicemen and servicewomen. Looking forward, she also spoke about the peace prospect, stressing that one crucial principle must be respected – nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine.
"Together with Ukraine, we want a just peace, one that does not reward the aggressor, but one that upholds the principles of the UN Charter, and the Ukrainian people's right to be masters of their own future," she explained. "A just peace must result in the withdrawal of Russian forces and their equipment from the territory of Ukraine."
A just peace for Ukraine must also be a lasting one, she added, stressing two important factors to achieve that: ensuring the long-term security of Ukraine and sustaining Ukraine's democratic reforms. "We will keep doing our part, to bring Ukraine much closer and much faster towards a just and lasting peace", the President said.
In this context, she pointed out that it was not enough to wait for aspiring EU members to move closer to the Union, but for the EU to also take responsibility for bringing them closer. She focused particularly on the Western Balkans region to which the EU extended the same solidarity measures that had been taken inside the EU following Russia's aggression on Ukraine, such as supporting vulnerable households, or building new energy infrastructure.
President von der Leyen outlined a new growth plan for the Western Balkans, aiming to bring some of the benefits of the EU membership to the people in the region already today. The plan is based on four pillars:
- bringing the Western Balkans closer to the EU single market, by joining for example the digital single market in areas such as e-commerce or cybersecurity, or by facilitating trade in goods and payments
- deepening regional economic integration which is crucial for unlocking the economic potential and attracting investors
- accelerating fundamental reforms, such as building an independent and efficient judiciary, ensuring sound public procurement, or stepping up the fight against corruption
- increasing pre-accession funds
"To a certain extent this is a new approach for the European Union: We do not only ask our partners to take new steps towards us. We also take a big step towards them. Our shared goal is to speed up their journey towards the EU. And for this, we bring our Union closer to the Western Balkans", she explained.
In conclusion, she reiterated the call to stand 'rightly and steadfastly' with Ukraine and to stay the course while living through this pivotal moment in history. "Ukraine will emerge stronger from this war. Huge crowds are waving European flags in Moldova and Georgia, where the yearning for a place in our European Union burns resolutely. The Western Balkans and the Union are getting closer and closer. This is the moment to seize, to forge a more united Europe!"
