Politico: Bad News For Putin From Europe
4- 18.09.2024, 9:00
- 32,406
The next five years will be decisive.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen presented the new composition of the EC. The new faces are bad news or Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, Politico writes.
“If Moscow needed a reminder that Brussels still supports Kyiv, it got it today. Ursula von der Leyen has been a strong supporter of Ukraine in its war against Russia, and this is reflected in her puzzle for a second term. Two candidates from the Baltic states are getting key portfolios in relations with Russia. In addition to Estonian Kaja Kallas, who will lead EU foreign policy, Lithuanian Andrius Kubilius will be responsible for the newly created defence portfolio,” the publication writes.
It is noted that Kubilius will report to the Finnish Commissioner, Executive Vice President for Technology, Sovereignty, Security and Democracy Henni Virkkunen. And Helsinki is one of the harshest critics of Russia in Europe.
The next five years will be key to preparing the bloc's expansion, which will include Ukraine, Moldova and the Western Balkans, Politico notes.
"That's why the enlargement portfolio is divided into two, so that one commissioner can focus primarily on enlargement, and the other on Europe's interests in the Mediterranean, namely economic development and migration control. The commissioner from Slovenia, Marta Kos, will be responsible for enlargement," the article reads.