BRUSSELS, 29 April 2024 – European council President Charles Michel delivered a poignant speech on the 20th anniversary of the 2004 EU enlargement, reflecting on the geopolitical shifts and challenges that have emerged since then.
Michel reminisced about the fall of the Iron Curtain and the subsequent rise of the great enlargement, which brought ten new Member States into the Union. He described this period as the reunification of a divided continent and a time of hope generated by the collapse of the Soviet empire.
However, Michel noted that the world has changed significantly since then. The optimism of 2004 seems distant in the face of three major shocks: climate change and biodiversity loss, the digital revolution and artificial intelligence, and a chaotic geopolitical transition.
The President highlighted the shift from a single hyperpower to a multipolar system, with the European Union emerging as one of the world’s three major blocs. He warned of the destabilising effects of protectionism, nationalism, and survival of the fittest.
Michel also addressed the current conflict in Ukraine, condemning Russia’s war against the sovereign nation and its hybrid attacks on the EU, its candidate countries, and even Africa. He accused Russia of weaponising migrants, money, and fake news to destabilise and crush the European dream.
Despite these challenges, Michel expressed confidence in the EU’s ability to navigate these turbulent times. He emphasised the need for a rejuvenated, reinvigorated path towards an irreversible settlement, and urged the EU to remain steadfast in its commitment to freedom, democracy, and prosperity.
