Michael Kappeler / DPA
Negotiations with the Ukrainian authorities on Ukraine’s accession to the European Union have been postponed. Presumably — until the summer. This was announced a few days ago by the head of the European Commission (EC) Ursula von der Leyen. She added that she does not expect the necessary basis for such consultations before the elections to the European Parliament, which will be held from June 6 to 9. It is understandable: the balance of power in this legislative body may well change in the direction of the right and the extreme right. And representatives of these parties have their own approach to European integration, migration processes and support for Ukraine. Indeed, we should take a look.
However, the Eurobureaucrats of the current convocation do not intend to sit idly by: Brussels will, according to Ursula, work hard on the «framework of guiding principles» (this is a favorite European format) of negotiations with Kiev, which then must be unanimously approved by all 27 member states of the European Union.
Let me remind you that in mid-December last year, the participants of the EU summit, having sent Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban out of the hall to take a break with his veto, gave a start to concrete talks with Ukraine and Moldova on joining the European bloc. The talks were supposed to start in March. But there has been no progress so far.
The delay is understandable: the chairs under all leading European officials have shaken. After the parliamentary elections in Brussels, the composition will change dramatically. The fate of Frau Von, the authoritarian head of the European Commission, who has taken over the entire EU policy, will be decided. She was openly accused of abuse of power by the President of the Council of Europe Charles Michel and the chief of European diplomacy Josep Borrell.
Ursula has long been tipped for the post of NATO Secretary General, which will be vacated in October. However, this page has recently been decisively closed by Chancellor Olaf Scholz. He opposed the German, among other things, because of her (very strange!) «anti-Russian position». German media wrote about it, paying special attention to the fact that Scholz, allegedly, does not want to promote a political rival. The chancellor is a Social Democrat, von der Leyen is a protege of Merkel and the conservative CDU/CSU bloc. And without his consent, she will not be successful in the military field …
Ursula did not grieve for long and on February 19 announced that she would run for the post of head of the European government for a second six-year term. If all goes well, she may be officially approved as a candidate on March 7 at the congress of the conservative European People’s Party in Bucharest.
In fact, von der Leyen has already started her election campaign. During her February 24 visit to Kiev (together with her colleagues, the prime ministers of Italy, Canada and Belgium), she said that the EU plans to conclude an agreement to replenish the defense fund and agree on joint purchases of ammunition for Ukraine. In other words, Frau has already looked ahead.
She also bravely identified the «critical elements»: Russia and global climate change are the main culprits of the problems of European farmers, who are holding protests in several countries because of inflation, falling incomes and increased imports from Ukraine.
If re-elected, the certified gynecologist and mother of seven (!) children intends to create the post of European Commissioner for Defense in the government (for the first time in the history of the EC). Her ministry has thoughtfully «laid the groundwork» for the new position: in March, the European Commission will present the European Defence Industry Strategy, which includes an increase in military production by more than 20 percent.
By the way, Jens Stoltenberg, an unsinkable Norwegian, is considered to be the main contender for the post of European commissioner for defense. He is expected to be instantly promoted from the alliance’s main cabinet to the post of «Ukraine watcher». This is how it was named in the Western media.
Due to the fact that Scholz demonstratively rejected «Frau Von» in the militaristic field, the chances of acting Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte becoming the new head of NATO have sharply increased. His candidacy is supported by President Joe Biden. By the way, two-thirds of the alliance’s countries are in solidarity with the opinion of the White House. The others will be given clear instructions from across the ocean to «make up their minds».
Rutte and his patron have a lot of work to do. According to NATO rules, the Secretary General must be elected unanimously. This means that the support of Turkey and Hungary must somehow be secured. The agreement should be concluded before the July summit, which will be held in Washington in honor of the 75th anniversary of the alliance. That’s where the name of the new boss will be announced.
It is noteworthy that the inauguration of the new NATO Secretary General will take place shortly before the elections in the United States, which may end with the victory of Donald Trump. In this scenario, the first challenge for Rutte (if, of course, he gets the post) will be the ability to overcome Republican skepticism about the alliance and collective security.