Brussels – Call it a Europe of peace, even as we prepare for war. Faced with invasions of EU airspace by aircraft belonging to other actors, the European Commission changes its narrative. “The founding mission of the European Union is to preserve peace. And today, that means having the capacity to deter aggression and provocation,” the President of the EU executive, Ursula von der Leyen, told the European Parliament plenary meeting in Strasbourg to discuss the alleged Russian incursions in European skies. All this means that “EEurope must urgently equip itself with a strategic capacity to respond,” von der Leyen added, which translates into an arms race.
Von der Leyen does not say so. On the contrary, she has learnt the lesson of the recent past. Having given her defense agenda the name ‘RearmEU’ (rearming Europe) was something that cost her consensus in Parliament, resulting in a change of course: ‘RearmEU’ changed its name to ‘Readiness 2030’ (being ready for 2030). Now one more piece is about to be added: “In two weeks, we will present our ‘Preserving Peace – Readiness Roadmap 2030′,” the European Commission President announced. She plays with names and semantics. “Preserving peace” through rearmament — the next-generation kind — because in the agenda to come, there will be drones and new solutions that technology can and will offer.
After all, von der Leyen captures the mood of the House and responds to widespread expectations among the groups. It is the Populars (EPP), Socialists (S&D), Liberals (RE), and Greens who call for a show of strength. From each political group comes the confirmation that the European Union is changing its skin. “The only thing Russia understands is strength,” argues Andrzey Halicki (EPP), the first to speak, and by no means alone in his views. “The European Union must grow stronger,” echoes the President of the Social Democrats, Iratxe Garcia Perez. “Putin challenges our freedom, but our answer will be more Europe: a strong and united Europe, capable of protecting its sky, its land and its future.”
“If we want peace, we need strength,” echoes Valerie Hayer, President of the Liberals. “[Russian President Vladimir] Putin only understands force,” she insists. The co-president of the Greens, Terry Reintke, changes the order of the words, but the meaning is the same: “We need a strong Europe.” It is up to his colleague and co-chairman of the Greens, Bas Eickut, to clarify: “Putin only respects strength, not diplomacy.” From the Socialist benches, Yannis Maniatis still demands the same thing differently: “Russia is testing us, and, unfortunately, we find that we are not ready. We must be ready.”
The EU advocates for peace through investment in heavy industry. A narrative that echoes the criticism coming from both opposition extremes. The sovereignists (PfE) and the radical left (theLeft) – who have called a no-confidence motion (voting tomorrow, October 9, but the votes seem to fall short) against von der Leyen – attack: “We are not at war with Russia,” said Pierre-Romain Thionnet (PfE). “Shooting everything that comes in is counterproductive; it feeds the Russian propaganda of being a victim” of the West. However, he admits, “deterrence is better than war.” In the end, there is an implicit green light for investments where the Commission and Parliament want them.
From the ranks of the radical left, Danilo Della Valle (M5S) launches an attack: “The EU is being held hostage by a faltering and dying leadership that is pushing us toward a third world war just to cover up its own inadequacy. President Von der Leyen, send your own children to war if you care so much!” — a direct criticism, and not the only one. Anders Vistisen (PfE) doubles down when he reminds everyone, pointing the finger at the President of the European Commission, that she was part of Merkel’s government, as defense minister, when Germany was buying Russian gas.
In a heated debate not without tension, there was even the censure of Ozmel Demirel, a German MEP from The Left. She claimed that “hybrid warfare has been going on for years, and not by one side,” she said, denouncing unspecified “covert military and drone operations conducted by the EU in other countries.” Her words triggered a review of her statements. It will be the President of the Parliament, Roberta Metsola, who, in the meantime, had left the debate, who will have to deal with Demirel’s accusations of destabilization.
English version by the Translation Service of Withub
