One crisis meeting quickly follows the next and yet no easing of tensions seems to be in sight. RTL’s Annick Goerens spoke to Luxembourg’s Members of the European Parliament about potential ways of solving the conflict.
MEP Christophe Hansen from the Christian Social People’s Party (CSV) thinks that the EU is currently only watching the conflict from afar while leaving it up to US President Joe Biden to represent both “the West” and NATO. Hansen further lamented that some countries, including France and Germany, undertake individual efforts of reconciliation instead of focusing on a joint European response.
The CSV politician explained that this strategy is a weakness: “Is there a unified position? Are [President] Macron and [Chancellor] Scholz conveying the same message to [President] Putin? Is it the same message that [Prime Minister] Bettel addressed during his phone call with Putin? I doubt it. ... We need to improve our joint messaging and see to it that we clearly define sanctions.”
MEP Hansen further noted that the EU is struggling with similar coordination issues in their defence. He also criticised the fact that Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Jean Asselborn proposed to make Ukraine a NATO member in 2014.
Hansen stated: “There is currently a lot of talk about ‘diplomacy’, but what has changed that a NATO membership is no longer on the table for Ukraine? I think it is time that we as Luxembourg stop being soft on Moscow, after all, we know that the Russians have many financial interests here. However, I also think this matter goes beyond our national interests and we simply cannot ignore it.”
MEP Charles Goerens from the Democratic Party (DP) bid caution when asked about how to deescalate the looming conflict. He stressed the importance of diplomatic efforts and elaborated on the continued search for appropriate non-military actions: “Putin has to think carefully about the price he is willing to pay if he does not divert from his current course.”
A potential repercussion of sanctions against Russia are further increases in energy costs. MEP Goerens acknowledged that this may be unavoidable: “Energy prices are not our only concern, this is a question of honour and we need to decide what matters more. This means that we have to accept the consequences of whatever choice we make. There will be repercussions if we sanction Russia, but the alternative is to surrender like cowards and do nothing.”
A plenary assembly of the European Parliament will take place on Wednesday. High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borell is set to take part and address the most recent diplomatic efforts.
