When asked what the EU has learned from Poland over the past 20 years, von der Leyen emphasized, “I think we should have listened better to the countries of Central Europe. They have much more experience with the neighborhood of Russia. Perhaps we should have taken action earlier, as suggested by some countries of Central Europe. Today, we can be grateful and satisfied that we have such a strong Europe, which can give such a strong response to Russia.”

The President of the European Commission emphasized that the 20th anniversary of the EU’s expansion is a day of joy.

“It’s a fantastic event. Looking from today’s perspective, it fundamentally changed Europe and made it stronger. Citizens have benefited from what participation in the Community brings. (…) The economy has developed very strongly. The Union has become the largest single market in the world. Thus, the voice of the EU has become much stronger,” she concluded.