BRUSSELS, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- The seven major regions of the world look back in 2023Europe: There are many difficulties in solving internal and external problems.
Xinhua News Agency reporter Fu Yiming.
Europe and abroad in 2023 are under pressure. From the perspective of external factors, the protracted protracted crisis in Ukraine has led to pressure on the EU on many frontsThe Palestinian-Israeli conflict has been extremely tragic, exacerbating differences within the European Union, and some member states are at increased risk of terrorist attacks. From the perspective of internal factors, there is a long way to go out of the economic downturn, and it is difficult to find consensus on achieving the goal of EU enlargement and solving problems such as illegal immigration.
Sub-heading) Internal and external troubles pose serious challenges.
In 2023, the protracted crisis in Ukraine has put continuous pressure on the European Union. At present, the prospects for Russian-Ukrainian negotiations are still slim, and the "fatigue phenomenon of aid to Ukraine" in the West, including the European Union, is becoming increasingly obvious. The EU summit in mid-December failed to agree on a €50 billion aid to Ukraine due to differences in positions among EU member states. Considering that the US Congress has not yet approved a new round of aid to Ukraine, the EU's failure to pass the aid plan for Ukraine this time will undoubtedly deal a further blow to Ukraine. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban made it clear that more money should not be given to Ukraine, but that the conflict should be ended.
Dai Ak Daniel, a researcher at the Hungarian Institute for the 21st Century Studies, believes that Hungary is "not alone" on the Ukraine issue, and several major EU member states agree with Orban's position, but "they dare not make a public statement under pressure from the United States and **."
In 2023, the number of migrants to Europe continues to rise, causing headaches for the EU. The issue of migration has once again become a key issue for EU countries to address urgently, but it is difficult to find a good solution. In recent years, due to the frequent terrorist attacks, many member states have become more cautious about security issues, and EU countries have been unable to reach a consensus on the issue of accepting illegal immigrants. In addition, the failure of member states to agree on a ceasefire in Gaza at the EU summit in December highlighted internal divisions and raised the risk of extreme events in some countries.
In 2023, Europe's ** far-right forces will maintain their rising momentum. In the Netherlands, the far-right Freedom Party won the most seats in the House of Representatives election results released in early December, becoming the largest party in the House of Representatives for the first timeIn Sweden, the far-right Sweden Democrats (Sweden Democrats) jumped to become the second largest party in parliament last year, influencing a number of key areas of governance in the governing coalitionIn Italy, the far-right Brothers has come to power;In Germany, the far-right AfD recently hit a record high in support. Many experts in Europe are worried that the rise of far-right parties in many countries may affect next year's European Parliament elections.
Faced with a severe strategic dilemma, the EU is trying to "break the deadlock" by expanding its membership. The EU summit adopted a decision to launch negotiations on the accession of Ukraine and Moldova in the absence of a vote in Hungary. At the same time, some Western Balkan countries have also started the process of joining the European Union to varying degrees. However, the attitude of Member States was not.
First, the candidate countries' own inadequate conditions and their own internal reform difficulties will become obstacles in the process of EU enlargement.
Sub-heading) There is a long way to go out of the economic downturn.
Eurostat data showed that the eurozone economy shrank by 0.0 in the third quarter of this year1%。
In 2023, the European economy will fall into the quagmire of low growth due to multiple factors such as reduced global demand, tighter financing conditions, and the prolongation of the energy crisis, as well as the impact of the Ukraine crisis and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. People's consumption expenditure, enterprise production and investment have been significantly suppressed, and enterprises in tourism, catering, manufacturing, retail, construction and other industries have been forced to lay off employees or even go bankrupt. The European Union has increased its military and economic aid spending due to geopolitical tensions, leading to increased downside risks to the economy. Due to the slow energy transition, lagging digital development and long-standing problems such as an aging population, the prospects for the EU to promote "re-industrialization" are not optimistic.
In addition, financing difficulties in a high-interest rate environment are creating new instability in Europe. In the first half of 2023, the closure of a number of US banks and the Credit Suisse crisis triggered the financial markets of Europe and the United States**. At present, the debt and financing difficulties of the commercial real estate industry, represented by the bankruptcy of the European real estate giant Signa, are widely worried in the market.
Europe has a long way to go as it navigates the impact of the geopolitical crisis and overcomes inflationary pressures and sluggish growth. The economic downturn in Europe is expected to continue into 2024.
EU-China cooperation is showing a momentum of recovery.
In the past year, the EU and China have increased exchanges in various fields and at multiple levels, and the two sides have sought consensus, managed differences and promoted cooperation, and bilateral relations have shown a good momentum of consolidation and development.
The year 2023 marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the China-EU Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, France's Emmanuel Macron, and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell visiting China one after another. Chinese Premier Li Qiang visited Germany and France in June, presided over the seventh round of China-Germany consultations, and attended the New Global Financing Compact Summit.
In recent years, China-EU cooperation in photovoltaics, batteries, new energy vehicles and other fields has developed rapidly. In stark contrast to some politicians who engage in anti-China agitation, the European business community is sober and pragmatic. In the eyes of multinational companies, China's development is not a risk, but a huge opportunity, and European companies have increased their investment in China.
In October this year, the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation was held in Beijing, attended by leaders or high-level representatives of many European countries. Over the past decade, the number of countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative between China and Europe has been growing, the China-Europe freight train has been galloping endlessly, landmark projects have blossomed and borne fruit, and people-to-people exchanges between China and Europe have become more convenient.
China and the EU held the 12th round of the China-EU High-Level Strategic Dialogue in Beijing in October this year, and the 24th China-EU Summit in Beijing in December. The two sides have fully resumed exchanges at all levels, especially the successful holding of high-level meetings in the fields of green, digital, economy and trade, which have reached new consensus and outcomes, demonstrating the resilience and vitality of China-EU relations.
China and the EU are two major forces promoting multipolarization, two major markets supporting globalization, and two major civilizations advocating diversity. In the new year, how the EU will continue to promote the mutually beneficial cooperative relationship between the EU and China, seek more common ground while reserving differences, and seek common ground to overcome differences, will test the wisdom of European leaders. (Participating reporters: Shan Weiyi, Kang Yi, Deng Yaomin, He Fei, Chen Gang, Li Jizhi) (end).