Von der Leyen: ‘Russia has used energy as a weapon’ | NOW

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Gone are the days when people wondered what is actually being done in Brussels. Now it is crisis after crisis. The European Commission arranged the central procurement of corona vaccines. Initiated a massive economic recovery program. Provided Ukrainian refugees who had fled after the Russian invasion a temporary status. Coordinated sanctions. Even financed arms supplies. And now Brussels wants every country to use 15 percent less gas in the coming heating season than last year. The Netherlands will achieve this, Germany has more difficulty with it, Spain hardly uses Russian gas. Brussels wants everyone to participate: what countries have left over can then go to countries that have too little. Just as the richer Germany helps the poorer south to recover from corona, the south has to help the gas-poor Germany through the winter. Today the energy ministers of the 27 member states are discussing the proposal. Von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, answered a number of questions by email.

The risks of dependence on Russian gas have been known for some time. Why does Europe only take major decisions when it has its back against the wall?

“We have been financing projects for years to strengthen our energy networks and our gas pipelines. And these now prove to be crucial for transporting gas and electricity across Europe. We have also been at the forefront of the fight against climate change for a long time. Really, the only “Those responsible for the current energy crisis are in Moscow. Russia has used energy as a weapon. Russia has become an unreliable supplier.”

You advocate solidarity. Isn’t it understandable that every country thinks of itself first?

“What all European countries need to realize is that a disruption in any EU country will have serious negative consequences for the economies of all Member States. Our economies are all linked through the single market, which is our most valuable asset in times of crisis. We all remember very well the early days of the pandemic, the consequences of the initial lack of coordination, with border closures and shortages. We cannot and do not want to experience that again. And we also saw how we overcome the crisis came when we acted in solidarity, by purchasing vaccines together and agreeing to the European recovery plan. This is the driving force of the EU: in the end, in every crisis, we collectively benefit from solidarity with each other. We are stronger than the simple sum of 27 Member States. And solidarity is never a one-way street. I am confident that we will uphold the European spirit even in this crisis.”

The Netherlands still has a considerable amount of gas in the ground. Does it have to be removed in an emergency?

“That is purely a question for the Dutch authorities. It is their sovereign right to determine their national energy mix, and also to decide which resources they want to extract on their territory. In any case, the EU has worked hard to find other sources to find gas for us, with success.”

You have campaigned for Ukraine and Moldova’s candidate for membership. Can the EU handle new members if the previous wave of enlargement of 2004 has not yet been fully processed?

“Enlargement has brought stability. Imagine where we would be today with the Russian invasion of Ukraine if the 2004 and 2007 expansions had not happened. In addition, the expansion has opened up new markets for businesses, with a positive effect on the economy of the EU as a whole. More importantly, it brings together people who belong to the same European family. Ukraine and Moldova have both demonstrated their commitment to European values ​​and implemented major reforms. Of course, enlargement remains based on merit At each step of the process, we assess whether the country is complying with our rules and standards, and all member states have a say at each step.”

“But in the meantime, of course, we must make a similar effort to reform our own decision-making processes. Because a larger EU must also be able to continue to act. Look at taxation, for example, where globalization and digitization have led to challenges for which a purely national approach no longer works. foreign policy, the unanimity principle has sometimes watered down and delayed our actions. Knowing in advance that the final decision can be made by qualified majority gives them a strong incentive to form alliances and shape consensus. knowing they can block everything, they don’t have that incentive, which is why I think we need qualified majority voting in foreign policy.”

Isn’t Brussels drawing too much power to itself?

“The recent past shows very clearly how European crises can be overcome with European solutions. Corona is a good example. The Commission has coordinated, but every decision has been taken in consultation with the Member States. This also applies to the Russian invasion. Initially, the Russia individually confronted European foreign ministers in its continued efforts to divide us. The EU responded with a united response. This unity will also be crucial in ensuring that citizens across the EU can continue to heat their homes and that businesses can continue to operate. We do not impose gas quotas. We are asking Member States to voluntarily find ways to reduce gas consumption now, so that we can store more for the winter. And only in an emergency, if Russia, for example, completely closes, the reduction target becomes binding.If we save gas now and replenish our stocks together, we will prepare ourselves or in the winter. And with every cubic meter of gas saved, we increase our resilience against Russian blackmail.”