If Europe is to survive it needs to be armed, strong and determined, and we need to invest more today, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Wednesday, during the European Parliament’s Plenary session in Strasbourg, while presenting the programme of the Polish EU Presidency’s activities to MEPs.
Welcoming the Polish Prime Minister, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said that Europe must step up and act with determination to ensure it continues to thrive and that its people can live securely and in safety, by taking steps to ensure it secures its own frontiers, protects its critical infrastructure and builds its defence readiness to counter very real external threats, in defence of its strategic autonomy.
“With Poland at the helm of this Presidency guided by your leadership and vision, dear Donald, I am confident our Union can tackle these critical issues and emerge even stronger, more prosperous and more secure. The steps we choose to take together in the next six months will be decisive for our Union. There is no time to lose: the time to act is now”, she stressed addressing the Polish Prime Minister.
In his opening statement, Tusk said that under the motto is “Secure Europe”, security is of key importance for the Polish Presidency, noting that at times of uncertainty “Europe must not be fearful, Europe was and will always be great”.
He added that the EU and its member states will be the most precious ally also for Washington if they take control of their security and expressed the belief that the EU can be a power that is equal with the greatest powers in the world.
Furthermore, he said that the priority of European security is composed of seven elements, the first being external security, noting that Europe cannot afford to save on security spending.
“If Europe is to survive it needs to be armed, strong and determined, and we need to invest more today”, he stressed.
In terms of internal security, Tusk said that if democracy and European values are to survive, we must defend our borders and our territories, adding that the EU needs to become “a synonym of power, force, morality and law”. He also called actions for against disinformation and foreign interference in democratic processes.
Regarding economic security, he said that Europe can become again the most creative and innovative economy, calling the EP to help in efforts towards deregulation, while on energy security he said EU’s sovereignty is dependent on energy autonomy, while calling for action to tackle high energy prices in Europe.
Another dimension is food security, continued the Polish Prime Minister, and called for actions that will help bring citizens onboard for a sustainable agriculture, while on health security he focused on the protection of minors from harmful online content.
Concluding, he said that European money and efforts should be translated into safe external borders and more investments in defence technologies.
For her part, European Commissioner for the Mediterranean, Dubravka Šuica, said that EU’s ambition on security and defence must match the scale of threats, adding that the Commission’s White Paper on the Future of European Defence is planned for March, while on the protection of people and borders, she said that ahead of the upcoming European Council in March the Commission plans to adopt a proposal for a new legal framework on returns and irregular migration.
She added that the European Commission will continue to stand behind Ukraine by keeping the pressure on Russia through the 16th sanctions package. It will also start developing a dedicated reconstruction plan for Gaza with the support of international partners and take forward a multi-year support programme for the Palestinian authority, paving the way for a two-state solution.
In the debate that followed, EPP MEP Manfred Weber supported the Polish Presidency’s call for an energy union and its efforts to build up defence capabilities.
He added that a “security first approach” also concerns trade, developing new technologies and migration policies, while making sure that European rules and values are respected by all.
S&D MEP Iratxe García Pérez said that security cannot be only about military spending and defence, but also about citizens’ welfare and health, protecting our planet and democracy.
MEP for “Patriots for Europe” Group Anna Bryłka said that “the free people of Europe demand an immediate withdrawal from the European Green Deal bringing down high energy prices, the deportation of illegal immigrants and guaranteeing the freedom of expression on the internet”.
MEP for the “Renew Europe” Group Valérie Hayer said that the Geen Deal is the key to EU’s energy independence and sovereignty, adding that another priority should be the implementation of the Asylum and Migration Pact.
Greens MEP Terry Reintke said that security also means environmental security, adding that investing in ecological transition on the European continent is also making the EU more independent.
Left MEP Konstantinos Arvanitis said that despite the security priorities set out by the Polish Presidency, access to fundamental rights continues to be an issue for Poland.
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Photo source: CNN
Source: CNA
