EU to Enhance Strategic Autonomy Amid Middle East and Russia-Ukraine Tensions

European Council President Costa addressed the European Parliament on the 25th, highlighting the ongoing impact of Middle East tensions and the Russia-Ukraine conflict. According to Jin10, Costa emphasized the need for the European Union to enhance its strategic autonomy by reducing external dependencies in key industries and technologies. He also stressed the importance of accelerating industrial policy and energy transition to mitigate the pressure from high energy prices. Costa announced that the EU will expedite the implementation of the 'One Europe, One Market' action plan, focusing on building a single market, reducing regulatory barriers, and enhancing labor mobility.