Von der Leyen: Ukraine achieved progress because its people have Europe in their hearts, same is true for Albania and North Macedonia
Athens, 29 September 2022 (MIA) – Most of Ukraine’s progress in EU reforms has been achieved because the people of Ukraine have Europe in their hearts and their minds. And the same is true for our friends in Albania, in North Macedonia and across the Western Balkans. It is true for Moldova and Georgia, who have also asked to join our Union. Once again, the wind of change is blowing across our continent, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in her keynote address at the 10th Athens Democracy Forum, MIA’s Athens correspondent reports.
The EC President spoke among other of democracy and democratic values, pointing out that Russia’s attack against Ukraine is “war of autocracy against democracy”, and adding “I am deeply convinced that democracy will prevail.”
Von der Leyen said all democracies are constant work in progress, including inside the EU, “built on the promise of ‘unity in diversity’”, adding that “this promise has yet to be achieved in full.”
She spoke about four priorities that require focus: the new threats, the multiple crises, new frontiers, and future generations.
Commenting on the new threats she said “warships and soldiers are no longer the only weapons in the hands of foreign autocrats”, but also disinformation, as well as cyberattacks, which “is also part of their war against democracy.”
As regards the multiple crises, the EC President mentioned the pandemic, the health crisis and the successful purchase of vaccines, as well as the Union’s reaction “at the speed of light to Russia’s attack against Ukraine, with the largest sanctions package in history”, underlining that “democracies can deliver if we act united.”
“Putin’s attack against Ukraine is an attempt to reverse the course of history, and to stop the long journey of democracy,” stressed President von der Leyen commenting on the third priority, adding it is not only about Russia’s war against Ukraine, but a number of democracies in the world.
As a fourth priority she underlined “let us never forget that our democracies belong to future generations.”
