True to the slow pace of European decision making, the new European Commission under its President Ursula von der Leyen will take office half a year after the elections to the European Parliament.

The challenges for the new Commission are obvious: the war in Ukraine is still raging, the European economy is comparatively weak and the European Green Deal is an immense challenge. Europe has little or no influence on the ongoing war in the Middle East. In addition, on November 5, 2024, Donald Trump was elected the 47th US president after a triumphant election victory – this time with an even more radical agenda than during his first term. His friends in the EU, like Hungary’s Prime Minister Orbán and his right-wing allies, will try to block any movements towards greater foreign policy cohesion towards his administration, but also that of Putin’s Russia.

Europe is facing a crucial test. How can it manage to protect its interests independently and develop its own defense policy in the face of US disengagement? Will the democratic forces prevail? And what role does the EU Commission play in this?

Prof. Erik Jones is Director of the Robert Schuman

Helfried Carl, diplomat, since 2019 partner of the