Europe faces a challenging year in 2025 with wars on the EU’s borders, Donald Trump entering the White House and political uncertainty in a number of European capitals.
Noelle O’Connell from European Movement Ireland told EU News Radio that the EU is facing a “huge number of headwinds”.
“If we look at what’s happening in Ukraine, we’re entering the third year of a brutal war; the horrific calamity that’s befallen the people in Palestine – Gaza, Israel – that conflict is still going on;
We will have a new US president, President Trump in a couple of weeks, and during his presidential run one of his favourite words was tariffs, so how is that going to impact and play our particularly at an EU level?”
All those issues at play at the same time make European affairs increasingly complex.
But in her new year message, the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, was upbeat about the prospects for the year ahead.
“We will nurture our bonds as Europeans and that is what will allow us to adapt and stand together to face whatever comes our way.
“I know that whatever happens, Europe will continue to be a light in the world.”
For Ireland, the first part of 2025 will be focused on the formation of a new government. But for other European countries there will be major elections.
In Germany, Chancellor Scholz was forced to call an election after his coaltion government fell apart late last year. He is struggling in the polls ahead of the vote in February.
In Moldova, there are fears of energy shortages after Ukraine turned off the flow of gas from Russia. Moldova is due to hold parliamentary elections in the first part of 2025.
There will also be important elections in Romania, Albania and Poland.
Ireland’s presidential election is due to take place in October.