VIDEO. Europe Has Learned Lessons from Excessive Dependencies, Says Von der Leyen

Ursula von der Leyen has stated in Yerevan the necessity of overcoming the European Union's energy and defense dependencies. During the ongoing summit of the European Political Community in Yerevan, the President of the European Commission emphasized that the European community has learned from the vulnerabilities created by excessive dependencies.

She pointed out that reliance on imported raw fuel has been a painful process, which, in the context of conflicts in the Middle East, has become a dead-end issue that undermines competitiveness. According to the official, it is essential to link energy dependency to renewable energy sources from domestic production and to 'electrify the EU' with the aim of ensuring independence.

As the second main challenge, von der Leyen highlighted security and defense. She informed that by 2030, €800 billion will be mobilized to fill gaps in the sector and establish prevention systems, so Europe can defend itself independently.

The President of the European Commission added that Europe's independence does not imply isolation but rather cooperation with like-minded partners. In this context, she emphasized the importance of establishing sustainable supply chains and activating free trade agreements from Latin America to India.