“How hard the EU’s position has really become, not in words, but in deeds, we will know in the weeks and months to come”
Strasbourg, 16 February 2022
Today, the European Parliament debated on the recent developments in EU-Russia relations and at the Ukrainian border. Co-Chairman Prof Ryszard Legutko spoke on behalf of the ECR Group. The ECR Group is of the opinion that despite its best effort over the years, the West has failed to make Putin any less aggressive and, in fact, has failed in its attempts to stabilise the situation.
The European Conservatives and Reformists call for an immediate change in the policy towards Russia and in particular caution against any acts of appeasement. The need for unity has never been as important as it is today. It is also necessary that all EU Member States are on the same page when it comes to responding to Putin’s actions. The EU should work as closely as possible with NATO and reject any demands to rule out further NATO enlargement. NATO is the only guarantor of security for our Member States and for all democratic countries in Europe that wish to join the alliance.
The full plenary speech by Prof Legutko reads:
“Thank you, Madame President, ladies and gentlemen. When in 2008, the Russian Army invaded Georgia, Poland’s president, Mr Kaczynski gathered political leaders from Ukraine, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania in Tiblisi and at the public meeting, he said these memorable words: “Today it is Georgia. Tomorrow, Ukraine, then the Baltic states, and in the future, maybe Poland.” Well, unfortunately, these words are not only memorable, but they sound prophetic, too. But, there is a discrepancy between East European and West European political sensibilities.
For most East Europeans, Russian imperialism is the fact that has determined and continues to determine their very existence. For the West Europeans, it is simply news in the media, some sometimes sensational and exciting, but generally it is rather tedious story in a far-off land, presumably made up but by some political fantasists.
To make the matter worse, Russia has become an object of deep attraction for many Europeans and additionally an engaging partner in power politics. Also in economic relations, not to mention the notorious Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2. And the fact that former chancellors of Germany and Austria, former prime ministers of France and Finland have been working for Russian businesses, were employed by Russian businesses, is meaningful. These gentlemen and many others too — also, ladies, let me add — are not mavericks, but they represent what is typical of a large segment of European political establishments. To call a spade a spade: Europe is a weak link in the line of defence against Russian imperialism.
No wonder that Putin likes to humiliate the European politicians and has been quite successful in this. Those politicians desire to accommodate Russia and are keen on conducting business as usual with her. And this is the reason why they de facto accepted the annexation of Crimea.
Well, recent signals from Europe and also from outside Europe have been rather mixed, but there is a lot of reassuring talk about the hardening of the European position vis a vis Russia. We’ve heard a lot of tough words today, really a significant EU pep–talk. But how hard this position has really become, not in words, but in deeds, we will know in the weeks and months to come.”
Source – ECR (via email)