Brussels, 17 Dec. (LaPresse) – ‘We Europeans cannot afford to let the worldviews of others define us. None of us should be shocked by what others say about Europe. But let me say this: it would not be the first time that beliefs about Europe have proved obsolete. And it would not be the first time that we have realised that the post-war world order is changing beyond recognition.’ This was stated by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, speaking at the European Parliament plenary session in the debate on the preparation of the European Council meeting on Thursday and Friday, referring to the US National Security Strategy, which speaks of the ‘decline of the EU’ and the ‘disappearance of civilisation’. "The National Security Strategy is right when it says: “Europe has lost global GDP share, falling from 25% in 1990 to 14% today”. But what it does not say is that the figures for the United States follow the same trend: from 22% in 1990 to 14% today. So this is not a story about one economy on one side of the Atlantic or the other,‘ he points out. ’This is a story about change in the global economy. If you look at China alone, its share of global GDP has risen from 4% in 1990 to 20% today. That is why the United States has long been clear about the shift in its strategic interests and priorities with the rise of China. The point I want to make is: this strategy is not the cause of the crisis Europe is facing in the world. It is a symptom of the reality of today's world. So our task at this week's summit is to demonstrate that we are focused on our strategic interests and priorities," he remarks.
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