German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that a fundamental reform is inevitable for the European Union (EU) to open its doors to new members. Scholz also called for a flash ‘European army’.
The eyes of the world have been on the news coming from Ukraine since February 24th.
While the war that started with Putin’s order has been going on for months, a flash move came from Germany.
German Chancellor Scholz also raised the issue of the EU having an independent strong military force.
Scholz also suggested that EU members should buy weapons and defense equipment together, that a ‘rapid strike force’ should be formed by 2025 and that an EU headquarters for the European Armed Forces should be designated.
“We must confidently push forward our European defense efforts in unity,” Scholz said, adding that differences of opinion on migration policy should also be resolved.
CALL FOR FUNDAMENTAL REFORM IN THE EU
Scholz also said that a fundamental reform is inevitable for the European Union (EU) to open its doors to new members.
Speaking at the congress of the European Social Democratic Parties (PES) in Berlin, the German Chancellor emphasized that the Union must fulfill its promises to the candidate countries and said that a fundamental reform is essential to open the doors to new members.
Stating that they will support Ukraine and Moldova on their way to the EU, Scholz said: “Like Georgia and West Baklan, these two countries belong to a free Europe. The promises made to the candidate countries years ago must now be fulfilled. Of course, the candidate countries must also fulfill the necessary criteria.
Reminding that the population of the 27-member EU is currently 450 million, Scholz pointed out that the EU’s power in the world will increase with more than 500 million people with free and equal rights when the number of members increases to 30 or 36.
Stating that the concerns of the less populated EU countries should never be ignored, Scholz reiterated his proposal that decisions should be taken gradually by absolute majority instead of unanimity, especially in foreign and tax policies.
‘The demands of each country must be taken into account in the future as they are now. To do otherwise would be a betrayal of European thinking. If our goal is a geopolitical Europe, an absolute majority is a gain for sovereignty, not a loss.
