HR/VP Kaja Kallas One Year of Mandate

Global Engagement with Youth

The EU is committed to work with youth towards a more cohesive, resilient, and inclusive global community, anchored in the shared values of peace, democracy, human rights, and prosperity. By involving young people, the EU is taking a proactive step towards creating a future that reflects the aspirations and concerns of the next generation.

Official visits by the HR/VP

Our regions are natural partners. We speak each other's languages. We cheer on each other's football teams. We are home to cities of murals and music. But most importantly, we share a set of common values: a belief in democracy, a commitment to the rules-based international order, and respect for international law.

You have the benefit of a good education, including here from the College of Europe. So use it: define your aim, find allies, make things happen. Or, to quote Taylor Swift, 'pledge allegiance to your hands, your team, your vibes.'

In the last 100 years, Russia has invaded at least 19 countries, some as many as three or four times. None of these 19 countries ever invaded or attacked Russia.

A broad assault is going on against the international legal order, human rights, internationally agreed norms, and the institutions we have established to enforce them.

In this war, there is one aggressor and one victim. Our job is to do all we can to support the victim and not reward the aggression.

We have to stop Russia in its tracks. If we don't, all we do is validate the claim that you can just take your neighbour's territory by force. If we don't defend the law, we validate aggression.

There are growing alliances of countries that see the world in a fundamentally different way to Europe.

It is not a coincidence that as global security diminishes, the odds are stacked against multilateral fora... Multilateralism has never been before under such intense pressure. But this is precisely why we need it. This is the era so many international organisations were really built for.

Both Europe and the Indo-Pacific are also facing the challenges of modern mercantilism and strategic competition. Moreover, the resilience of our countries in both regions is being tested by climate change, terrorism, global and regional crises. So whether we are closer to the Atlantic Ocean or the Andaman Sea, we are all in the same boat.

Close to 80% of Europeans are in favour of a common defence and security policy among European Union countries. Over 70% agree the European Union needs to reinforce its capacity to produce military equipment. I think our citizens know what's at stake. But politicians have to catch up too.

For decades, Europe has produced strategic documents, roadmaps and declarations. It is time we move beyond to more missiles, tanks, and ships.

The European Union and Member States remain Africa's first and closest cooperation partner. Nearly €150 billion in investment has been committed under the EU's Global Gateway strategy to enhance infrastructure, digital connectivity and green transitions all across Africa.

Being a geopolitical actor also means rescinding Europe's offer where our interests are not respected. If we have doubts about a country's respect for our interests, we should be clear about the consequences.

The weight of the world is behind the Two-State Solution. The European Union has worked hard to make this possible. The European Union is the leading supporter of the Palestinian Authority. We will provide 1.6 billion euro over the next three years.