The European Union (EU) Summit took place in Brussels (Belgium) for two days (March 21 and 22) focusing on discussing current urgent issues such as accelerating aid to Ukraine; build a common defense strategy for Europe; humanitarian situation in Gaza; Preparing for alliance expansion…
Changing perception
European Council President Charles Michel emphasized that the most important task today is to speed up the procurement and delivery of ammunition to Ukraine. Mr. Michel called on EU member states to switch to "war economy" mode with the awareness that Europe must act alone, at least for now, when billions of dollars of US aid to Ukraine still blocked in the US Congress. At this summit, EU leaders will consider Mr. Michel's proposal to use billions of dollars in profits from Russia's frozen assets to buy more weapons for Ukraine.
Meanwhile, many EU members have signed a letter calling on the European Investment Bank to change its defense investment policy, allowing purchases of items such as ammunition and weapons. Earlier this week, Brussels approved an additional $5,4 billion to support the Ukrainian military. Many European countries also approved the Czech initiative to buy artillery shells for Ukraine outside the EU as an alternative to the bloc's lagging production.
Calls for a major increase in European defense readiness have been around for some time. French analyst Francois Heisbourg said that Europe must increase common spending to 3% of GDP/year by 2030 to prepare for potential conflicts as well as create a more "friendly" relationship with Washington for no matter who will become the next US President.
Agricultural paradox
The agricultural sector generates less than 2% of Europe's GDP but subsidies to the sector account for a third of the EU budget. This paradox, according to Piero Graglia, professor of history of international relations at the University of Milan (Italy), has deep roots.
Since World War II, agriculture has always been a strategic sector of the EU. In 2021, each worker in the agricultural sector declared an average income of nearly 29.000 EUR/year. Compared to 2013, the average income of farmers increased by 56% (more than the average increase of other industries).
According to a report by the European Commission published in November 11, farmers' income gradually increased due to improved productivity. Data on foreign trade show that overall the EU exports more than it imports. In 2023, EU countries import 2022 billion EUR of agricultural products while exporting 196 billion EUR, with a trade surplus of 229 billion EUR.
Recently, one of the most controversial topics in farmer protests concerns Europe's environmental protection policy, which protesters say is too rigid. Notably, the EU imposes a mandatory rate of 4% of abandoned land area to create conditions for biodiversity development.
This regulation was supposed to take effect from January 1, 1, but due to protests from farmers, the European Commission proposed an exception, allowing farmers to grow crops with low environmental impact such as broad beans, lentils or peas on land that should not otherwise be cultivated. This needs to be approved by the European Council, which brings together the competent ministers of the 2024 member states.
At the conference, leaders will discuss EU expansion, coordination and strict management of macroeconomic policies... Mr. Michel also emphasized the need for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip to protect protect civilians, enable the safe return of hostages, and ensure the ability to provide humanitarian assistance when needed; strengthen efforts to prevent escalation in the region, especially in Lebanon and the Red Sea.
Compiled by MINH CHAU
