The confidence that the EU is moving very fast towards a common identity of defense and security, with the next step being the creation of a rapid reaction force of 5,000 soldiers, was expressed today, from the step of 7th Delphi Economic Forumthe vice-president of the European Commission Margaritis Schoinas, while he added that the possibility of a European army is not so far away.
“We have decided, for the first time in European history, to buy (for the EU) armaments for Ukraine with the resources of the so-called ‘Peace Facility’. These are things that have never happened before and show that, without a doubt, we are moving fast towards a European defense and security identity. I think the next step will be to create a rapid reaction force of 5,000 people, soldiers, who will act where Europe ‘s strategic interests are at stake, and I have no doubt that my generation will one day see the European army as well. This possibility is not so far away anymore “, he underlined, during a discussion with the journalist Eleni Varvitsioti.
Based on the “Strategic Compass”, added Mr. Schoinas, the text that the EU prime ministers agreed in Brussels on March 21, the operation of the rapid reaction force will be accompanied by the convergence of programs (member states) in defense and weapons systems and at the end of the process the European army will emerge.
As for what this probably means for her Hellas, pointed out that those who imagined the country from this side of the geopolitical fence, beyond NATO, through EU structures, are historically justified. “What Konstantinos Karamanlis saw when you applied for the EU is happening now, 47 years later. “We are on a historic road that has no return,” he said.
Any sanctions on the gas run the risk of splitting the “27” section
Asked to comment on what is being said inside the EU about the need to impose additional sanctions on Russia, both in oil and gas, Mr. Schoinas stressed: “Just as strong is the need for sanctions to ‘bite’, it is just as important the goal of achieving the unity of the 27 Member States at a time. It would be a great strategic mistake for Europe to take a decisive step that shakes the broken unity of the 27, which we live in for 45 days (…) Under no circumstances should the unity of the 27 be threatened, and in this case I believe that gas sanctions pose this risk. I would not say the same about oil, there I see a possibility of unanimity. “But there will be no new sanctions packages if we have not already secured the 27-member unit.”
Green energy transition: adjustments yes, but it would be a huge mistake to “pull the parking brake”
Regarding the possibility of energy crisis to negatively affect the goals of the green transition, by restoring, for example, the increased use of “dirty” lignite, Mr. Schoinas said that although as long as the current insecurity lasts, it is possible to make some adjustments in this direction, it would be very It is a big mistake for the EU to pull the brakes on the process.
“I am not worried that the current situation, which certainly requires some corrective action, is such that it will blow up our commitment to the green transition model and to the expressed will of Europe to be a world leader in this field. We designed it at the end of 2019, endowed it with unprecedented resources, we are developing European technologies that support it, we are starting to implement the European recovery and resilience plans and it would be a very big mistake to pull the handbrake in this process. “This does not mean that as long as this insecurity lasts, we should not make any adjustments, but in no case will we reverse our expressed will for a green Europe,” he said.
“The Coalition of Paranoia” and the possibility of electing Le Pen
Asked if, after the pandemic and the first war on European soil in 70 years, the EU could deal with the additional shock of Marie Le Pen’s election in France, Schoinas said: “I believe that there is very Europe) a front that believes that the authoritarian model of governance provides answers. In France we have a double problem, because this front exists on both the far right and the far left. So I think the key issue, which will determine the end result, will be whether these two extremes will unite in a big coalition of paranoia. I believe that this will not happen, but it will be very interesting not the first but the second round of elections “.
Mr Schoinas also referred to Germany, saying it had faith in Berlin’s overall ability to support key European policies, regardless of the ruling parties, adding that “Germany has perhaps the greatest interest in unity of the European project but also its depth “. The EU Vice President reiterated yesterday his statements on the refugee wave from Ukraine and recalled the moves that the united Europe has made so far to welcome refugees.
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