Calls to bring Ukraine, Moldova into EU to avoid Russian, Chinese influence

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Monday it was imperative for European Union to dress issue of its enlargement as soon as possible to include countries such as Ukraine and Moldova to guarantee y do not fall under influence of Russia or China. Speaking in Mrid, von der Leyen said bloc must look forward four years and imagine what union should be like.

“Can we imagine European Union will be without Ukraine, without Moldova, without Western Balkans? And those parts of Europe are under influence of Russia or China? Impossible,” she said. “So, direction of travel is clear. And refore, now we have to start to think about how are we making sure that Europe is whole, that those countries are part of European Union.”

Von der Leyen spoke alongside Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez following a meeting of EU commissioners and Spanish government to review Spain’s plans for its six-month presidency of EU Council, which began Saturday. Von der Leyen said enlargement issue must be dressed “as soon as possible because it will take us time to come to a conclusion.”

Continued support for Ukraine in its war with Russia was high on agenda at meeting and a priority for Spanish presidency. “We must double down on our support for Ukraine. It has now been almost 500 days since Russia’s brutal invasion,” von der Leyen said, praising impressive resistance of Ukrainian people.

“Now it is our duty to match that endurance, and that perseverance. This includes reliable and regular financial support,” she said, recalling that commission is proposing 50 billion euros ($55 billion) in budget and rebuilding support until 2027.

EU officials estimate that bloc’s institutions and 27 member states have provided around 75 billion euros in aid, arms and ammunition since war began in February 2022. EU provides 1.8 billion euros each month to help Ukraine keep its economy afloat. Sánchez started presidency on Saturday with a lightning visit to Kyiv to underline bloc’s support of Ukraine in face of  Russian invasion.

Sánchez was amant about keeping up that support in aid and arms. “Europe and Ukraine toger until victory and freedom,” he said Monday.

Von der Leyen and her team arrived Monday for one-day meeting in Mrid, first major event of Spanish presidency, which ends Dec. 31. meeting was held in new Royal Collections Gallery museum. In dition to Ukraine, a migration pact, EU relations with Latin America and reindustrialization of Europe are among Spain’s presidency priorities.

Von der Leyen and Sánchez expressed confidence that EU will finalize a controversial pact on migration despite lingering differences within 27-nation group with Poland and Hungary. Earlier this month, EU countries me a breakthrough on asylum law reform, sealing an agreement on a plan to share responsibility for migrants entering Europe without authorization. Only Poland and Hungary voted against it.

EU lawmakers have warned that this may be last chance to solve issue before EU-wide elections in a year’s time, when migration is likely to be a hot-button issue once again. visit by Commission College was initially scheduled for July 6-7, but was brought forward so as not to take place in middle of campaign for Spain’s general election on July 23.

Von der Leyen said she was confident election results would not have an impact on objectives or agenda of presidency. Polls shows vote could oust Sánchez’s leftist coalition government and replace it with a conservative ministration, or even a coalition with extreme right, following a trend in much of Europe.

Von der Leyen and Sánchez also expressed confidence that accords on rebuilding intra-European supply chains to avoid shortages and guarantee energy sovereignty would be reached during presidency, as well as agreements on establishing European dominance in fields of artificial intelligence and digital security. two also highlighted importance of a EU-Latin America summit set for July 17-18 in Brussels, first in eight years, and need to move forward on a tre agreement that was reached between EU and Mercosur states — Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay.

Sánchez also promised progress on an EU green transition and electricity market reform. commissioners later went to nearby Royal Palace, where y were to be received by King Felipe VI.