The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, expressed this Wednesday her support for the creation of the future European Political Community, which will be discussed in October in an informal European Council, and reiterated the fight against corruption.
“I support the call for the creation of a European Political Community — and in that sense we will present our ideas to the European Council,” von der Leyen said, speaking in his third State of the European Union (EU) address to Parliament. European.
The leader of the community executive also said that the EU “is incomplete” without the citizens of the Western Balkans, Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia.
“You are part of our family, your future is with us in the Union and the Union is not complete without you”, he underlined, adding the need to “continue supporting the countries of Europe even after the accession process”.
The creation of a European Political Community was launched under the French presidency of the EU Council with the aim of strengthening cooperation between the bloc and neighboring countries, including accession candidates.
Ursula von der Leyen also underlined, in her speech, the importance of the fight against corruption: “To be credible when we ask the candidate countries to strengthen their democracies, we must also eradicate internal corruption.”
Thus, the Commission will present, in 2023, measures to update the legislative framework in the fight against corruption, including increased penalties for “crimes such as illicit enrichment, influence peddling and abuse of power, in addition to more classic crimes, such as as a bribe.”
The president of the European Commission also announced that she will propose “the inclusion of corruption in the human rights sanctions regime, the new instrument to protect our values abroad.”
Source: TSF
