Although the bloc has achieved remarkable success, it should carefully and deeply reflect on the causes and likelihood of a decade of extended crisis in the EU and surrounding neighborhood. If by 2018 the internal stagnation still exists and instability remains, the EU's credibility will be hugely damaged. Then its global leadership will be weakened though it always intervenes or impose sanctions in the name of sharing the values of peace, democracy and integrity.

Now, the EU has changed its leadership and new measures regarding economic growth, the EU's neighborhood and Ukraine crisis will be announced for 2015 and beyond.

Yet no matter what kind of recipe is on offer, the EU needs a long-term view for sustained recovery. And ideally (though there is no sign that such action is being considered), the bloc's leadership should adopt systematic solutions rather than looking for quick fixes.

The EU needs structural reform, and it has to reduce its red tape and inject dynamism into the economy by designing mega-projects and creating jobs. It is really time for the EU to think outside the box.

For its neighborhood policy, the EU should put more trust in the people of the relevant countries. They have their own wisdom and should be left to find the solutions to their own development and political issues. The EU should give up the notion that it is some kind of savior.

And with the crisis in Ukraine continuing, the EU urgently needs a timely and more mutually beneficial vision for its policies toward Russia, an indispensible business partner.

As the New Year arrives, Brussels should reflect on the fact that its current way of thinking and present course of action may result in a historic mistake.

The author is China Daily's chief correspondent in Brussels. fujing@chinadaily.com.cn