Wednesday

29th Nov 2023

Opinion

Russia, IS: EU values under attack

  • Street sign in Kiev: 'We can't have business as usual until business is as usual' (Photo: Marco Fieber)

Little more than two weeks ago, as the world turned its eyes towards the vicious terrorist attacks in Paris, violence once again flared up in Ukraine.

The current state of affairs is clear: on several fronts, the core values of Europe are threatened. Be it Islamic terrorists or Russia's wars of aggression, it is vital that we safeguard our values and interests.

Read and decide

Join EUobserver today

Become an expert on Europe

Get instant access to all articles — and 20 years of archives. 14-day free trial.

... or subscribe as a group

In Ukraine, Russian-controlled forces still use weapons, including tanks and artillery that were supposed to be removed from the front. It is obvious that in light of these transgressions, this is not the time for a return to "business as usual."

Of course, no one would prefer the current state of affairs to the system of mutual respect, peace and cooperation.

However, first and foremost, Russia must restore the trust that president Vladimir Putin has dashed, end the policy of restoring Moscow's Soviet-time spheres of influence and unconditionally comply with international law and agreements.

Preposterous idea

On 17 November, the Social Democratic Group in the EU Parliament held a conference called Europe in Crisis - 40 Years of the Helsinki Final Act. The programme featured a session called EU-Russia: Restoring a Common Responsibility for Europe's Security. Among those invited were two prominent Russian MPs - Alexey Pushkov and Konstantin Kosachev - as well as Kremlin adviser Mikhail Fedotov.

For all friends of liberty and democracy, the idea of celebrating the anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act by inviting representatives of a state which has broken the foundations of the 1975 Helsinki system of security and cooperation, is preposterous.

It was only after receiving a protest from 17 MEPs that the EP president Martin Schulz and the high representative, Federica Mogherini decided not to attend.

A few days later, it was revealed that commission president Jean-Claude Juncker had written a letter to the Kremlin expressing his desire to return to "business as usual" with Russia, stating that he could "assure [the Russian government] that the European Commission will be a helpful partner in this process."

Again, we reiterate that we, too, desire restoration of peaceful and good neighbourly relations. First however, Russia's government must take responsibility for its actions and provide reliable guarantees that it is willing to return to the respect of international law, including the return of the illegally annexed Crimean peninsula to Ukraine.

We fully support the stand taken by the European Parliament and the commission that it is up to Russia to fulfil the Minsk Accords, to put an end to its invasion of Ukraine and to let that country freely decide its own fate. It is the EU's fundamental responsibility to lead the way towards restoration of European justice, peace, and stability.

Not business as usual

In June 2015, the European Parliament decided that there can be no return to "business as usual" as long as Russia disregards its commitments to respect the European order.

Europe has now reached a point at which the integrity of the EU is being challenged by different forces aiming at the destruction of liberty and democracy.

The terrorist mass murders in Paris and the lockdown of Brussels during the last week of November cannot be viewed separately from Russia's continuing aggression against Ukraine and its bullying of Russia's neighbours.

If the EU does not support the Ukrainian people in their fight for freedom and prosperity, it not only betrays that people's belief in us, but indeed the very values the EU is supposed to uphold.

We can't have business as usual until business is as usual.

Gunnar Hokmark is Swedish MEP. Tunne Kelam is an Estonian MEP. Krisjanis Karins is a Latvian MEP. Gabrielius Landsbergis is a Lithuanian MEP

Disclaimer

The views expressed in this opinion piece are the author's, not those of EUobserver.

Ukraine: Notes from a European construction site

Ukraine today resembles a giant construction site. Many of its achievements are unseen. Many still left to build. But its people deserve Europe's support, writes its ambassador to the EU.

The EU's 'no added sugars' fruit-juice label sleight-of-hand

The Food Information to Consumers package would have finally regulated the health or nutrition claims companies make on their products, claims like "heart-healthy" "30-percent less fat" or "no added sugar". Legislation on these claims is now 15 years overdue.

Column

How centre-right conservatives capitulate to the far-right

Many conservatives in Europe seem to have forgotten the lesson of 1930s Germany. They sacrifice their principles on the altar of the polls and all-too-often try to overtake rightwing radicals on their own pet subjects like security or migration.

My experience trying to negotiate with Uber

After working with people in unusual employment situations for a decade, I thought I had seen it all as a union organiser. Then I began dealing with Uber.

My experience trying to negotiate with Uber

After working with people in unusual employment situations for a decade, I thought I had seen it all as a union organiser. Then I began dealing with Uber.

Column

How centre-right conservatives capitulate to the far-right

Many conservatives in Europe seem to have forgotten the lesson of 1930s Germany. They sacrifice their principles on the altar of the polls and all-too-often try to overtake rightwing radicals on their own pet subjects like security or migration.

Latest News

  1. The EU's 'no added sugars' fruit-juice label sleight-of-hand
  2. EU belittles Russia's Lavrov on way to Skopje talks
  3. Member states stall on EU ban on forced-labour products
  4. EU calls for increased fuel supplies into Gaza
  5. People-smuggling profits at historic high, EU concedes
  6. EU bets big on fossil hydrogen and carbon storage
  7. How centre-right conservatives capitulate to the far-right
  8. My experience trying to negotiate with Uber

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. Friedrich Naumann FoundationPoems of Liberty – Call for Submission “Human Rights in Inhume War”: 250€ honorary fee for selected poems
  2. World BankWorld Bank report: How to create a future where the rewards of technology benefit all levels of society?
  3. Georgia Ministry of Foreign AffairsThis autumn Europalia arts festival is all about GEORGIA!
  4. UNOPSFostering health system resilience in fragile and conflict-affected countries
  5. European Citizen's InitiativeThe European Commission launches the ‘ImagineEU’ competition for secondary school students in the EU.
  6. Nordic Council of MinistersThe Nordic Region is stepping up its efforts to reduce food waste

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. UNOPSUNOPS begins works under EU-funded project to repair schools in Ukraine
  2. Georgia Ministry of Foreign AffairsGeorgia effectively prevents sanctions evasion against Russia – confirm EU, UK, USA
  3. Nordic Council of MinistersGlobal interest in the new Nordic Nutrition Recommendations – here are the speakers for the launch
  4. Nordic Council of Ministers20 June: Launch of the new Nordic Nutrition Recommendations
  5. International Sustainable Finance CentreJoin CEE Sustainable Finance Summit, 15 – 19 May 2023, high-level event for finance & business
  6. ICLEISeven actionable measures to make food procurement in Europe more sustainable

Join EUobserver

Support quality EU news

Join us