“Many European illusions have been shattered,” admits Ursula von der Leyen

Is the EU finally waking up to its failures?

Montage © Facts4EU.Org 2024

Facts4EU.Org looks at the EU Commission President’s speech to the EU Parliament yesterday

In Strasbourg yesterday (Wed 28 Feb 2024) the President of the EU Commission Ursula von der Leyen made a speech to the 750-odd members of the EU Parliament. Her topic was the defence of Europe – an area in which the EU has failed dismally for decades.

As ever, the speech was high on rhetoric, low on truth and accuracy, and very late to the party.

Below we present some extracts from Frau von der Leyen’s speech to EU parliamentarians, with some commentary by us.

Brexit Facts4EU.Org Summary

EU Commission President finally acknowledges some geopolitical reality

Facts4EU.Org dissects the EU spin for readers

“In the last years, many European illusions have been shattered. The illusion that peace is permanent. The illusion that economic prosperity might matter more to Putin than destroying a free and democratic Ukraine. The illusion that Europe on its own was doing enough on security – be it economic or military, conventional or cyber. As we look around us, it is clear there is no room for any more illusions. Putin used the peace dividend to prepare for this war. As a result, the world is as dangerous as it has been for generations. Russia's brutal war of aggression against Ukraine is now in its third year and is more entrenched and intense than ever.”

Yes, we have been warning you for the last eight years. It’s rather late now to recognise you have been asleep at the wheel.

“We are seeing the potency and the dangers of a rising and disturbing league of authoritarians. North Korea is delivering order after order of ammunition shells to Russia. And Iran is providing attack drones, and crucially also the technology behind them, to inflict untold damage on Ukrainian cities and citizens.”

The EU’s policy on appeasement to Iran has been little short of calamitous. President Donald Trump withdrew the US from the nuclear deal with Iran, recognising that this was and is an evil regime which cannot be trusted. The EU Commission dismissed his concerns – which have now presented themselves in numerous ways – and continued to advocate for the deal. Finally it seems they might finally have woken up and smelt the cordite.

Here is what we wrote earlier this year

On Israel, Gaza and Hamas (although she never mentions the latter)

“The continuing war in Gaza and the large-scale destabilisation in the Middle East point to an era of insecurity and conflict in the region and beyond. And we are also seeing the continued rise of aggressive economic competition and distortion, which brings with it some very real European security risks."
"So, to put it as bluntly as outgoing President Niinistö of Finland did last month: ‘Europe has to wake up.' And I would add: urgently. We all know there is so much at stake here – our freedom and our prosperity. And we have to start acting like it.”

They could start by paying the NATO 2% of GDP in funding defence, and by spending all the money they failed to do for decades.

“The good news is: We have started a lot of that work already. In fact, the last years have not only served to shatter some European illusions. But they have also shattered many illusions about Europe. That our unity would not hold in the face of a war on our continent. Or that our rules and divisions would hold us back in providing massive financial, military and political support. Well, over the last two years, Europe has shown and proven that it will support Ukraine for as long as it takes. And we have also shown and proven that a more sovereign Europe is not just wishful thinking.”

The UK started supporting Ukraine when Russia fist invaded Crimea in 2014 – 10 years ago. Ursula von der Leyen seems to be proud of saying that ‘Europe’ has supported Ukraine for the last two years. It must be asked what exactly ‘Europe’ is doing. Some EU countries have recently stood up to be counted, but most have not.

NATO and Sweden

“At this point let me be clear: European sovereignty will make our partnerships stronger. It will never affect the importance and the need for our NATO alliance. In fact, a more sovereign Europe, in particular on defence, is vital to strengthening NATO. That is why I am pleased with the news that Sweden will soon become a NATO ally.
“Member States have stepped up. Just last week, the naval mission Aspides was launched to protect against the direct threat to the freedom of navigation. Freedom of navigation that serves as a bedrock of global trade in one of the world's most critical waterways.”

This is not an EU mission. Certain EU countries have finally decided to act, in a limited way.

The EU27’s defence spending

“And Member States have stepped up their defence spending too. Their national defence budgets have already risen by 20% from last year. And NATO has just announced that it expects 18 of its members to beat the 2% defence spending target this year. That is up from only 3 members a decade ago.”

The UK has always beaten the NATO target of spending a minimum of 2% of GDP on defence, and has used 20% of that budget on equipment – a secondary NATO minimum. Only one EU country (Greece) has come close, and its expenditure has almost all gone to German arms manufacturers. The reason for this is Greece’s uneasy relationship with Turkey. It has nothing to do with European defence as a whole.

Even the EU Commission President admits they started too late

“All of this progress shows that Europe has started to grasp the urgency and the scale of the challenge that is ahead of us. But there is a lot more to do. And we need to move fast. The threat of war may not be imminent, but it is not impossible. The risks of war should not be overblown, but they should be prepared for.
“And that starts with the urgent need to rebuild, replenish and modernise Member States' armed forces. In doing so, Europe should strive to develop and manufacture the next generation of battle-winning operational capabilities and to ensure it has the sufficient quantity of material and the technological superiority that we may need in the future. That means turbocharging our defence industrial capacity in the next five years.”

Once again this is political

“This must be a truly European effort. And that is why I am proud to announce that we will set up an Office for Defence Innovation in Kyiv. This will bring Ukraine ever closer to Europe and it will enable all Member States to draw on Ukraine's battlefield experience and expertise in industrial defence innovation."

In other words, this is all part of the Commission’s aim to add another member to the EU27.

“And the topic needs undivided attention. This is why I am personally supportive of a designated Defence Commissioner for the next Commission.”
“Ultimately, this is about Europe taking responsibility for its own security. The simple truth is: We do not have the luxury of comfort. We do not have the control over elections or decisions in other parts of the world. And we simply do not have the time to skirt around the issue. With or without the support of our partners, we cannot let Russia win. And the cost of insecurity – the cost of a Russian victory – is far greater than any saving we could make now. This is why it is time for Europe to step up.”

- Ursula von der Leyen, speech to EU Parliament, Strasbourg, 28 Feb 2024

Observations

This speech by the EU Commission’s President is yet more ‘froth’. The vast majority of it is aspirational but is not actually happening. It sets out – very belatedly – a vague agenda.

This does not come close to a definitive action plan for the EU to step up and assume the responsibility for its own defence. In the meantime Brexit Britain will have to continue to provide defensive support for the EU, as it has done for decades.

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[ Sources: EU Commission | NATO | MoD ] Politicians and journalists can contact us for details, as ever.

Brexit Facts4EU.Org, Thurs 29 Feb 2024

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Reader Comments 5

1. Have You Wondered , Thursday, February 29, 2024, 09:11:

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"Is the EU finally waking up to its failures?" maybe VDL ought read one of yesterdays headlines from the European press :
"Former Italian Prime Minister and European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi has demanded a reform of European institutions, insisting that the single market was in “trouble”. "
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VDL also ought remember her remark recently:
"I must say, I keep telling my children: 'You have to fix it. We goofed it up, you have to fix it.'"
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Yep - Next time stick to the original EU tenet of trading apples and pears for peace instead of concentrating on political and military expansionism and get member nations to give their 2% "
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VDL is also falling into a pattern that when leaders are failing they become more authoritive and autocratic. Here's a few examples that you'll have to look up yourselves since we can't even post cryptic links.
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“But now she’s pushing her own political agenda without consulting member states, on geopolitics,.....”
“They come up with a proposal and then put pressure on member states to say yes.”
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"PROPOSED EU TREATY CHANGE: “a completely ill-considered and disproportionate shift in decision-making toward highly centralized structures escaping democratic control.” "
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""She doesn't consult with anyone [or] only consults in crisis situations when she has a knife at her throat," said one senior Commission official, who was granted anonymity like others in this story to discuss the internal politics of the EU’s executive. "
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Continued.
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2. Have You Wondered , Thursday, February 29, 2024, 09:13:

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Continued. VDL is also falling into a pattern that when leaders are failing they become more authoritive and autocratic. Here's a few examples that you'll have to look up yourselves since we can't even post cryptic links.
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European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has asked for individual EU Member States to trust Brussels to deal with the surge in coups in Africa.
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Speaking to **** Orban's Political Director, Balázs Orban said: "We were very supportive of her. But now she’s pushing her own political agenda without consulting member states, on geopolitics, relationship with the U.S. and China, on war issues, sanctions."
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In an interview with Germany’s Spiegel, Michel effectively accused Commission President Ursula von der Leyen of disrespecting the EU treaties because she negotiated the deal with Tunisia without fully involving EU countries. "
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"In private conversations in Brussels, diplomats, lawmakers and her own European Commission, staffers complain “VDL” is overstepping her job description, cutting EU governments out of her decision-making and ruling with a small group of advisers by decree. "
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"She took decisions behind closed doors, with just a small coterie of advisers. Commissioners often felt locked out, even when the policy in question directly affected their portfolios."
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"She does not embody collegiality. On so many topics, commissioners discover things via the media. "
"Von der Leyen struck the deal by herself, leaving not just her commissioners but also other EU governments scrambling for details. "
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"But after asking for more money yesterday at the European Council summit, the EU chief left the stage without accepting any questions. "
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So much for EU democracy.
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Why does the UK (or any other nation) need another level of corruption and malfeasance above that which the UK has already?

3. NH , Thursday, February 29, 2024, 11:11:

When the EU imposed sanctions of exports of "advanced technology" on Russia this restricted exports of 3.2 Billion Euros to Russia. During the same year exports of the same "advanced technology" to Russian friendly states increased by 3 Billion Euros. This included an increase of exports to Kyrgyzstan of 1680 % and exports to Turkey, a NATO member and potential EU member, increased by 72%.
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It's completely obvious that the companies involved with these exports must have understood that this circumvention of sanctions was happening. This has recently been identified by an independent organisation and when they have confronted the EU it is obvious that they know this is happening. They are blaming the third party countries but so far they do not seem to have taken any action.
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It seems that despite the EU rhetoric about helping Ukraine they seem to put their own selfish interests first.

4. terence patrick hewett , Thursday, February 29, 2024, 15:39:

@NH
Sanctions don't work: Rhodesia and South Africa proved that. At best they distort the target economy, and contribute to political change. This process takes decades: if it works at all

5. LuxuryBalloon , Thursday, February 29, 2024, 20:17:

I always suspected NATO and the EU to be the same organisation … as they both have their headquarters in Brussel.

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