Slovenian President Natasa Pirc Musar referred to the importance of “U.S. and the EU must work together as before no matter who wins the elections” because Washington “is crucial in the strategy to support Ukraine.”
The presidents of the 15 countries of the so-called Arraiolos Group met this Friday in Krakow (south), the historic capital of Poland, to advocate for the maintenance of cooperation with the United States, whatever the result of the upcoming elections in that country. , and to discuss the admission of new members to the European Union (EU).
In a press conference after the work session, the Polish president, Andrzej Duda, as host, assured that the central point of the meeting was the commitment of “strengthen transatlantic ties between the European bloc and Washington, so that there is “more European Union in the United States and vice versa.” See this: Everything you need to know about hurricanes: How do they form and where?
Duda announced that this will be his country’s main commitment when it assumes the rotating presidency of the Union in the first half of 2025.
The Slovenian president, Natasa Pirc Musar, referred to the importance of “the United States and the European Union must work together as before regardless of who wins the elections” because – she added – Washington “is a crucial element in the allied strategy of “I support Ukraine.”
Not all countries share Polish enthusiasm for enlarging the EU
Russian aggression, but also to join the EU as soon as possible.”
However, not all presidents present at the conference shared Duda’s impetus to complete Ukrainian accession as soon as possible, and for example, the Hungarian president, Tamás Sulyok, referred to “the need for a constructive debate to define among all the better solutions to common challenges”, such as the Ukrainian case.
For his part, the Slovak president, Peter Pellegrini, did not hesitate to say clearly that “EU enlargement should not be automatic, but the result of reforms and efforts, no matter how difficult they may be.” You can also read: Death toll from tornadoes and Hurricane Milton that hit Florida rises to 16
This conference, described as the most important international event organized by Poland in 2024, takes place less than a month before the US presidential elections, and also as Poland prepares to assume the rotating presidency of the European Union, starting in January 2025.
If the push for Ukraine’s accession to the EU still does not find unanimous support among European countries, the project of extending European enlargement to countries such as Moldova, Georgia or the Balkan countries was recognized as something to be taken into account in the future, but still subject to a process of indefinite duration.
Defense and energy security, common needs in the EU
What all the presidents unequivocally agreed on was the relevance of increasing defense spending, not only in budgetary terms, but also in terms of the development of a solid European arms industry with capabilities in line with the needs they have established. events such as the war in Ukraine.
Energy independence is considered by European leaders as another element of the strategic security of the old continent, and after recovering from “the slap in the face of the outbreak of the war in Ukraine”, as Pellegrini described it, and the restrictions on imports Russian leaders, European leaders were convinced that it is imperative to achieve the greatest possible autonomy in this field. You can read: Kamala Harris and Donald Trump burn their last cartridges to win Arizona
But, although everyone was convinced of pursuing that goal and promoting the production of clean energy, President Duda, whose country has a difficult path to leave behind its dependence on polluting coal, demanded a “fair” change for everyone, “ gradual and non-traumatic.”
The Arraiolos Group was created in 2003 during a meeting in the Portuguese town of the same name. It is informal and there is no officially established list of participants. During the annual meetings of representatives of the member states of this body, the situation in the EU and issues of its future are discussed. The host of the 2023 conference was Portugal.