Foreign Affairs Outlook for 2021

European Politics in 2021 and EU-Korea Relations

Dr. CHO Hong Sik

Professor, Soongsil University

chs@ssu.ac.kr

English Abstract

Europe suffered a severe economic crisis in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and it will continue to pull every string for economic recovery in the new year while managing a new phase of the public health crises. European Union is expected to work to restore the international cooperation system in keeping pace with the new U.S. administration in the foreign policy aspect. Europe faces an important political event in 2021 for Germany’s September general elections, which will have a significant impact on the future of the entire Europe. In this situation, South Korea’s important diplomatic mission is to keep a close eye on domestic politics in Germany and France, and to secure Europe as a partner and a leverage in the global strucuture of the U.S. and China’s confrontations.