The President of the European Council considered this Monday that the priorities of the next mandate must be the consolidation of the “socioeconomic base” of the European Union (EU), the energy challenge and the improvement of Defense capabilities.
Michel considered, in a statement released during the Council’s summit week (Thursday and Friday), that the Strategic Agenda for the next term must include “four major areas”, including the “consolidation of the socioeconomic base”, namely, ” the green and digital transition, competitiveness, innovation and health”.
In the opinion of the President of the Council, the 27 of the EU still have to “solve the energy challenge”, in particular the sharp fluctuation of prices and diversification, to end the dependence on countries like Russia, which may end up using it there to blackmail Brussels.
Even after the invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation, Michel considered that the community bloc should also give priority to “strengthening security and defense capabilities.”
Finally, he indicated as a priority objective “deepening the commitments with the rest of the world”, so that the EU can consolidate itself as one of the world powers.
“Our Union was founded on fundamental values. But these values are under attack in innovative ways. In a world that is undergoing a profound technological transformation, where artificial intelligence will play a fundamental role with consequences we cannot foresee, we must ensure that we remain able to protect and promote these values, inside and outside the EU,” said Charles Michel.
At the same time, the President of the Council said that it is necessary to consider the enlargement of the EU as of great importance, without neglecting “the implications of the enlargement”, that is, the decision-making process between the member states.
Michel began his first term as President of the European Council on December 1, 2019 and on March 24, 2022 he was re-elected for a second term of two and a half years.
Spain will begin the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union on July 1, for a period of six months, succeeding the Swedish presidency.
It is followed by the Belgian presidency, in the first half of 2024, and the Hungarian one, which it will assume with a renewed composition of the European Parliament and the rest of the institutions.
Source: TSF
