#EUFridays by JEF Hungary #8

Happy 20th birthday to the Euro

20 years ago, people held the brand-new currency in their hands. The European Central Bank printed 15 billion € banknotes in exchange for 12 other national currencies. The euro has a second meaning that people might not realise for the first glimpse. As the 2nd most used currency in the world, and a borderless fiscal tool for EU members, it also symbolises stability, prosperity and has a reflection on the common European identity. Although it has faced many obstacles through its 2 decades, such as the global financial crisis or most recently the COVID-19 pandemic, the Euro continues to strengthen the sense of unity within the EU. Especially now, we all should reinstate our resources in order to tackle global issues like climate change or the current health crisis. The meaning of euro sets a perfect example of international cooperation.

https://www.consilium.europa.eu/hu/press/press-releases/2021/12/31/reflections-on-20-years-of-the-euro-joint-article-by-eurogroup-members/

15th anniversary of Romania’s and Bulgaria’s accession to the EU

On 1st January, people in Romania and Bulgaria popped the cork not just to celebrate the New Year but the 15th birthday of their EU memberships. A new chapter has started with the joining of these two post-communist countries. According to Cristian Ghinea, European funds are lifesaving for these countries’ economy. He mentioned several developments such as building new roads, providing running water in rural areas and establishing waste management systems in remote villages. Being part of the European Union, they also took on the fight against corruption and organised crime in the area. Quoting Klaus Iohannis: “The European road remains legitimately the only option for Romania’s prosperity, stability and long-term development.”

Since the joining, a significant increase in wages can be seen. For instance, the gross minimal wage rose from 79 € to 465 € in the past decade. However, every coin has two sides. The “free movement” policy opened doors to the wealthier West’s tempting lifestyle. Hence, already 4 million people have left the area to seek better future. Although, the brain drain remains a yet unresolved problem, people attested that the Romania they knew before entering the EU was extremely poor by today’s standards.

https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/bulgaria-romania-benefits-snags-joining-eu-82085908

High Representative Borrell on Ukrainian land

On the 5th day of January Ukraine welcomed the EU High Representative, Joseph Borrell whose outing in Eastern Europe was ground-breaking. He was the first top diplomat who had travelled to the country since the outbreak of the Crimean conflict in 2014.

Kyiv’s recent threat of military confrontation urged the politician and Brussels to ensure the EU’s support. “Ukraine has the support of the European Union in countering Russian aggression. In fact, this support is the strongest since 2014."- said the diplomat in Kyiv after visiting the frontline in the Luhansk region. He was accompanied by the Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba who said that it was “a very timely visit against the background of Russian blackmail, escalation and threats.”

Moscow opposes Ukraine’s rapid Westernisation and assimilation to the EU, because it is publicly known that it has serious intentions of regaining the neighbouring country. The urgency of preventing Ukraine’s pivot to the Western pressured Moscow to direct its military troops to the Ukrainian border for a possible large-scale military offensive. On the other hand, Russia demands that NATO halt its eastward expansion and end military cooperation with Ukraine and Georgia because they have been involved in territorial disputes.

https://www.ceps.eu/russias-threat-to-invade-ukraine-and-europes-soft-power/

France on stage

On the 1st of January France took over the rotating presidency of the EU as Emmanuel Macron poses in the shoes of the EU’s actual leader. Being the leading actor on the international stage of politics has always been an essential when it comes to the national elections and domestic politics. The French greatness and Europhile views have played an extremely important role in Macron’s political agenda and he expressed his thoughts on his ambition of preserving it several times before.

"You can count on my complete commitment to ensure that this period, which comes around every 13 years, is a time of progress for you"- he vowed to the nation in one of his speeches. Macron’s tools to get people’s support perfectly fulfil the nation’s desire which according to Pierre Sellal, a former French diplomat at the French mission to the EU is “the impression of France being at the controls.”. France’s priorities include strengthening European sovereignty, the protection of the Schengen-Area, and a new model for European economic and climate policy. Although the president’s campaign’s agenda is to make Europe powerful, his views are domestically divisive. Many politicians from the opposition expressed their thoughts and concerns on his re-election. They claim that “he is doing it for his own interest and not France’s.” The elections will be held in April and people from all over the country and Europe are longing to see what happens next for French politics.

https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20220101-macron-takes-over-eu-presidency-as-national-election-looms