European Commission Takes Its Responsibilities Amid Challenges and Tensions

The new executive team of the European Union, led by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, took office on December 1, 2023, at a time when the bloc’s 27 member states face a new geopolitical reality.

The new team at the European Commission faces a tough agenda, covering issues such as security and defense in light of the Ukrainian war on the eastern border of the EU, tensions in the Middle East, slowing competitiveness, economic competition from China, trade concerns ahead of the return of President-elect Donald Trump to the White House, and illegal immigration, according to the German news agency.

In Strasbourg, France, before the vote on the new Commission team, von der Leyen said: “We have no time to waste. We must be as ambitious as the threats are serious.”

The new team at the European Commission also includes former Estonian Prime Minister Kaya Kallas as the “High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,” succeeding former EU diplomat Josep Borrell. Former Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa took over as President of the European Council, succeeding Belgian Charles Michel.

The European Commission’s leadership team consists of 27 members, each representing one of the EU member states, including von der Leyen from Germany. The team took office after the European elections held last June and will serve until 2029.

Costa, Kallas, and EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos visited the Ukrainian capital Kyiv on their first day in office and sent a strong message that the EU will continue to support Ukraine in the face of the Russian invasion and Kyiv’s bid for EU membership.

Kallas said the support would include humanitarian, financial, military, and diplomatic aid, describing the situation in Ukraine as “extremely dangerous.”

Regarding Ukraine’s efforts to join the EU, Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos, a former Slovenian ambassador to Germany and Switzerland, said, “I pledge to do everything I can to get you to the finish line of the negotiation process.”

The EU officially launched accession negotiations with Ukraine in June. Costa said last Sunday that she would work with Kyiv to open at least two negotiation chapters during the first half of 2025.

After the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the EU modified its expansion policy toward its eastern neighbors, granting Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia candidate status for membership. This was previously unthinkable, as the EU had always been cautious about expansion.

However, Costa expressed opposition to setting “artificial deadlines” for the accession process, differing from the stance of his predecessor, Charles Michel, who said the EU and the current candidate countries should be ready for enlargement by 2030.

In a review of the new Commission’s priorities last week, von der Leyen emphasized the importance of increasing defense spending and maintaining EU unity.

Strengthening Europe’s defenses has been a priority since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. According to the Commission, Europe’s defense spending has been too low and fragmented in recent decades, compared to what Russia and China are doing.

Von der Leyen, who was once Germany’s defense minister under Angela Merkel, said: “We must increase our defense spending. We need a single market in defense and to strengthen the defense industrial base.”

While Europe collectively spent about $125 billion to support Ukraine in its fight against the Russian invasion since 2022, the U.S. alone has provided more than $90 billion, according to Germany’s Kiel Institute for the World Economy.

Von der Leyen had earlier stated that the EU needs to invest €500 billion ($526 billion) in defense over the next decade to keep up with Russia and China.

This issue has become more urgent since Donald Trump’s re-election, amid concerns that he may reduce Washington’s commitment to European security and its support for Ukraine.