100 Days in Office for EU Chief, Refugee Issue Top Priority... "Sustainable Solutions Needed"

First Meeting with Turkish President Erdogan on Press Conference Day
"Brexit Negotiations Must Strengthen EU Geopolitical Influence"

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Union (EU) Commission, who marked her 100th day in office, indicated that she intends to prioritize the refugee issue at the Greece-Turkey border, which has resurfaced after four years. She expressed her determination not to repeat the ordeal experienced when Syrian and Libyan refugees flooded into Europe all at once.

According to The Guardian and others on the 9th (local time), von der Leyen held a press conference in Brussels, Belgium, to commemorate her 100th day in office. At the start of her speech, she said, "When I first began my term 100 days ago, there were many questions and issues," adding that at that time, the immigration agreement between the EU and Turkey was not a topic of discussion. By mentioning immigration as the first topic of her speech, she emphasized the issue she is currently focusing on.

Regarding this, von der Leyen sat down at the table for the first time on the same day in the morning with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an ahead of the press conference. Together with Charles Michel, President of the European Council, they discussed immigration issues at the Greece-Turkey border. This was the first dialogue between the two leaders since President Erdo?an declared at the end of last month that he would not prevent refugees from heading to Europe.

After the meeting, von der Leyen said at the press conference that the talks were held "honestly," but added that it was "only the beginning" of the discussions. She said they would review and evaluate all the agreements between the EU and Turkey, including the provision of 6 billion euros (approximately 8.18 trillion KRW) in refugee aid in 2016. She added, "Both sides will attempt to fill in the gaps that were missed in the 2016 agreement."

However, she emphasized, "The immigration issue will stay with us and will not disappear. We must find a sustainable solution." She continued, "We are currently caught in a 'deep dilemma,'" stating, "What happened at the Greece-Turkey border suggests there is political pressure on the EU's external borders. At the same time, the refugees at the border are in need of help, and Greece also needs assistance." She stressed that since President Erdo?an is politically leveraging the Syrian situation and the EU refugee issue, the EU must devise its own alternatives.

Von der Leyen, who has emphasized the need for immigration measures since the beginning of her term, said she would present immigration policies after Easter on April 12. She said, "Compared to 2015, the EU is definitely better prepared now, though not yet to a sufficient level," adding, "Within the first 100 days of my term, I have worked to build consensus among all 27 member states regarding immigration. The preparations for announcing the agreement are almost complete."

President Erdo?an did not make any separate remarks after meeting with the EU leaders. Earlier, he met with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and said that no European country is stepping up in the humanitarian crisis in Syria and that they should not remain idle. He emphasized that NATO allies must clearly show solidarity with Turkey.

In addition to immigration, von der Leyen mentioned the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change at her 100-day press conference. She said that to prevent the spread of COVID-19, she is cooperating with member states and taking proactive measures, while discussing with the European Central Bank (ECB) and others to minimize economic damage. She stressed that to act more actively on immigration, COVID-19, and other issues, the agreement and passage of the EU's seven-year mid-to-long-term budget, which is currently under discussion among member states, is essential.

She also said, "Europe is facing a massive transition in digitalization and climate change," adding, "We will fight climate change as an opportunity for jobs and economic growth." Regarding Brexit, she said, "The EU will carve its own path," and emphasized the need to strengthen the EU's geopolitical influence. Von der Leyen, who was Germany's first female Minister of Defense, became the first female Commission President after parliamentary approval in July last year and began her term on December 1 of the same year.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.