Ilhan Kyuchyuk to Students at Plovdiv University: The pandemic and war have reshaped our views on modern Europe

The leader of the European liberals, Ilhan Kyuchyuk, was a guest lecturer today at Plovdiv University “Paisii Hilendarski,” where he delivered a lecture focused on the security and future of Europe. Invited by the Department of Political Science and National Security at the university, Kyuchyuk spoke on the topic: “Quo Vadis, Europa?” (translated – Where is Europe headed?).

Addressing the students, Kyuchyuk shared that, to date, peace and security are becoming increasingly complex, and that even in Europe, the assumption of sustainable peace can no longer be taken for granted.

“The focus of the von der Leyen Commission will remain firmly directed at transforming the EU into a more autonomous, strategic, and comprehensive participant in peace and security, combining elements of normative, soft, and hard power, and adapting to the rapidly transforming world with persistence and resilience. This focus aims to consolidate the EU as a reliable participant in an uncertain world. Although the twin crises of the past two years – the pandemic and the war in Eastern Europe – exposed the EU’s vulnerabilities and external dependencies, they also demonstrated the EU’s ability to act boldly and innovatively in unison when faced with major threats,” Kyuchyuk stated.

The MEP added that public opinion surveys show that citizens are increasingly prioritizing security when formulating policies at the EU level, a theme reflected in the results of the Conference on the Future of Europe.

In the concluding part of his lecture, Kyuchyuk advised the attending students with the words: “Recognizing and studying a broad range of traditional and emerging threats that jeopardize the interests and values of the EU, as well as global peace, is an essential exercise in shaping EU policies.”

The lecture sparked great interest among the attendees, who eagerly awaited the discussion to ask their questions to the MEP.

Тази публикация е достъпна и на следните езици: Bulgarian