EU: "The Old West No Longer Exists"

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that the old, familiar West no longer exists, the world has become geopolitically globalized, and that she has been holding talks with many heads of state and government leaders who are willing to work with them on shaping a new world order.

In an interview with Germany’s Zeit newspaper, von der Leyen emphasized that she sees it as important for Europe to contribute to the formation of the slowly emerging new world order — and believes Europe is capable of doing so.

Von der Leyen noted that Europe has emerged stronger from every crisis and responded to a question about whether she considers herself a leader of the Western world by saying:"The West as we knew it no longer exists. The world has become a geopolitical sphere, and today our networks of friendship stretch across the globe."

The European Commission President added:"However, the new reality also includes the fact that many other countries are seeking closer ties with us. Thirteen percent of global trade is conducted with the United States — a significant share — but the remaining 87 percent involves trade among other states worldwide. All of them seek predictability and reliable rules."

Von der Leyen described the current relationship between the US and the EU as "complex," stressing:"It is important for us Europeans to know what we want and what we aim to achieve in this situation." Source: BloombergHT