For nearly an hour, the German leader talked about some of the pressing problems in Europe and eventually managed to garner praise from the left and right, but also criticism, especially from the extreme stands.
Olena, Magdalena, Agnieszka, Isabel II
Dressed in a yellow jacket and blue blouse, the colors of the Ukrainian flag, Ursula von der Leyen did not hesitate and started her speech by talking about the war and Europe’s solidarity response. According to the President of the Commission, “courage has a face”, the face of Ukrainian women and men. And who better than President Volodymyr Zelensky’s wife to symbolize that courage? Olena Zelenska was the “guest of honor” and was entitled to the first ovation of the day, at a time when many members were still outside the meeting room.
At the end of the speech, in solidarity, he expressed his thanks to two young Polish women, Magdalena and Agnieszka, also present in the hall, who, despite the influx of refugees in Warsaw, founded a movement that in days 3,000 volunteers. “They showed everyone what Europeans can achieve when we come together around a common mission. This is the European spirit,” praised the German leader.
Another woman who received praise was the “legend” Elizabeth II. “When I think about the situation we find ourselves in today, his words at the height of the pandemic still resonate with me: ‘We will be successful, and that success will be ours'”. Women were the majority, but they did not have the exclusive inspiration. Von der Leyen called on former European Parliament President David Sassoli when he quoted his phrase “democracy has not gone out of fashion but needs updating to keep improving people’s lives”.
“Our single market is one of Europe’s greatest success stories. Now is the time to make it a success story for our Ukrainian friends too.”
Sanctions for Moscow, internal market for Kiev
For the Commission leader, the invasion of Russia is not limited to aggression against Ukraine. “This is a war against our energy, a war against our economy, a war against our values and a war against our future. It is my conviction that with courage and solidarity, Putin will fail and Ukraine and Europe will prevail.” He acknowledged that the EU should have heeded Russian journalists who paid with their lives, as well as warnings from eastern countries, the Baltic countries and Poland. “We have been told for years that Putin would not stop.” economic sanctions are being enforced because “it is not time for appeasement”, although he did not suggest that other measures could be taken.
After saying that the Commission would contribute EUR 100 million for the reconstruction of schools, he announced that he would meet President Zelensky that same day in Kiev, having lifted the veil on two measures to be taken in the future: on in the field of communications , with Ukraine’s accession to the zone without roaming charges; and, more ambitiously, in the European internal market.
“I am convinced that with courage and solidarity, Putin will fail and that Ukraine and Europe will prevail. (…) Europe’s solidarity with Ukraine will remain unwavering.”
Send bills to Russia
If there is near unanimity on support for Ukraine, the issue of the energy crisis, which occupied part of the debate the previous afternoon, showed the typical division of European parties. As already mentioned, the President of the Commission announced a tax on the extra profits of energy companies worth EUR 140 billion to meet the needs of households and businesses.
“In our social market economy, profits are positive. But in these times it is wrong to receive unprecedented extraordinary profits, taking advantage of war and at the expense of consumers. In these times profits must be shared and funneled to those who need them most. “
A temporary measure that has long been demanded by the most left-wing parties in the House. Several Socialist and Green deputies welcomed the move (see side note). In a more combative tone, Manon Aubry, bank leader for the left-wing unitary group (same as the PCP and the Bloco de Esquerda), said Leyen is new to recognizing the existence of extraordinary gains, but he warned that “late lucidity doesn’t help you, you’re welcome”.
Aubry, an activist of Jean-Luc Mélénchon’s Insubmissive France, showed a bill for 2,300 euros worth of energy and asked how citizens are going to pay these costs. In French, Leyen said such a bill is “unbearable” and suggested sending the bill and the like to Moscow, to which Aubry replied: “Stop hiding behind the others.” Already the president of the socialist group, Iratxe García Pérez, who rejected “pessimism and catastrophism”, deplored the absence of the social dimension in the president’s speech.
hydrogen bank
For Ursula von der Leyen, the current configuration of the energy market is no longer fair and that is why she also announced the decoupling of the gas price from the electricity price, in a “deep and comprehensive reform”, which should not happen before the end of the year .. He also urged members to hurry to adopt the €20 billion RePower energy efficiency package.
On the same day, MEPs approved increasing final renewable energy consumption to 45% by 2030, while in another vote they said yes to reducing energy consumption by 40% by that year, compared to projections from 2007.
Still on energy, von der Leyen said that Europe has not learned from the energy crisis of the 1970s, but mistakes will not be repeated this time, and announced the creation of a hydrogen bank, with which €3 billion will help stop a green hydrogen niche energy.
Fundamental rights
The President of the Commission reiterated the defense of the independence of the judiciary and the protection of the budget through the conditionality mechanism. In other words, without mentioning name, he again drew attention to the situation in Hungary (whose proposal for a report on its democratic fragility was discussed again by members, who regretted the European Council’s inaction on the matter) and in Poland .
“Many of us have taken democracy for granted for too long. Today we all see that we have to fight for our democracies. Every day.”
Several deputies called on the Commission to be “creative” and help Hungarians by transferring the money without sending it to Viktor Orbán’s government.
The journalist traveled at the invitation of the European Parliament
Source: DN
