(CLO) After two days of work, the European Union (EU) Summit ended with a commitment to strengthen the bloc's economy and defense. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who chaired the conference, also called on European leaders to pursue a policy of peace in Ukraine.
Prime Minister Orban also stressed that the common goal of the participating leaders was to "make Europe great again", a reference to the slogan of newly elected US President Donald Trump.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (left) and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Photo: AP
Disagreements over Ukraine
Mr Trump's re-election was a major issue at the summit, with leaders discussing how the European Union would act in the face of Mr Trump's return to power and how to make the European economy competitive with the US.
Mr. Orban said in the Budapest Declaration, European countries have come together to come up with quick solutions to reduce the current very high prices of electricity and gas.
On Friday, Hungary's prime minister told European leaders that Mr Trump's re-election would change the course of Russia's war in Ukraine, calling on the EU to "move from conflict to peace".
“The situation on the front is clear, there is a military defeat” for Ukraine, Mr Orban stressed in a radio interview.
However, French President Emmanuel Macron and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk issued a joint statement in Budapest, reaffirming their strong determination to continue providing aid to Ukraine.
Europe wants to cooperate with Mr. Trump
Meanwhile, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz affirmed his desire to cooperate with the US President-elect. But he stressed that Europe needs to proactively ensure its own security.
“We need to work together as the European Union, as Europeans, to take the necessary actions to protect our own security,” he stressed.
Regarding the possibility of new US tariffs and their impact on the EU economy, Mr. Scholz said the European Union is ready to deal with it.
“I don’t think we should speculate too much about this with the US. The EU has the capacity to do what is necessary. However, we should all work for the negotiations to be clear,” Mr Scholz added.
Determination to reform the economy
Regarding the EU's economic issues, on Friday, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stressed that the European Union needs to carry out economic reforms quickly.
Former European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi has released a comprehensive report highlighting concerns that Europe is falling behind the US, with low productivity and a recession in the EU economy.
“The recommendations in this report are urgent, especially in the current economic context. They have become even more urgent after the US elections,” Mr. Draghi said.
On Friday, Ms Von der Leyen also pledged to propose a 'clean industrial deal' to support the decarbonisation of the European economy in the 'first 100 days' of her new European Commission, which is due to start work in December.
She proposed simplifying administrative procedures to facilitate business operations.
Ha Trang (according to DW)
Source: https://www.congluan.vn/hoi-nghi-thuong-dinh-eu-keu-goi-lam-cho-chau-au-vi-dai-va-hoa-binh-tro-lai-post320668.html
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