European Union President Jean-Claude Juncker has reiterated the 28-nation bloc’s commitment to Ukraine and warned against further Russian aggression in his first state of the union speech, which also criticized a lack of unity within the EU.
Juncker’s state of the EU address was held in Strasbourg on Sept. 9 and titled “Time for Honesty, Unity and Solidarity.” In a 10,000 word speech, he spoke at length on the refugee crisis facing Europe, the Greek bailout and European economy, Britain’s possible EU exit and climate change. In a section entitled “United alongside Ukraine,” he expanded on his central theme: “There is not enough Europe in this union. And there is not enough union in this union.”
The EU and Ukraine
After stating that there are currently 40 active conflicts in the world, Juncker said: “If we want to promote a more peaceful world, we will need more Europe and more Union in our foreign policy. This is most urgent towards Ukraine.”
“The challenge of helping Ukraine to survive, to reform and to prosper is a European one,” he continued. “Ultimately, the Ukrainian dream, the dream of the Maidan is European: to live in a modern country, in a stable economy, in a sound and fair political system.”
Juncker referred to his relationships with both Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and Russia President Vladimir Putin. He said that Poroshenko was “fighting for peace” and deserved Europe’s support.
His strongest words were reserved for President Putin and the Russian government, as Juncker addressed fears in the Baltic States – Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia – that they could be the next target of expansionist Russian aggression.
“We need unity when it comes to the security of our eastern member states, notably the Baltics,” he said. “The security and the borders of EU member states are untouchable. I want this to be understood very clearly in Moscow.”
In a possible rebuke towards French President François Hollande, who recently told reporters in Paris that he hoped to see an end to sanctions against Russia, Juncker spoke out about the importance of standing united against violations of international law.
“We need more unity when it comes to sanctions…They are a policy that needs to be kept in place until the Minsk Agreements are complied with in full,” he said. “We will have to keep our nerve and our unity.”
Concluding the section on Ukraine, Juncker said that “The EU must show Russia the cost of confrontation but it must also make clear it is prepared to engage.”
Refugee crisis
Juncker also spoke in depth on the subject currently dominating European headlines: the refugee crisis. In an appeal for humanity and fairness, he listed several historical precedents of the current situation and reminded the audience that in Europe, “nearly everyone has at one time been a refugee.”
“We Europeans should know and should never forget why giving refuge and complying with the fundamental right to asylum is so important,” he said.
Describing Europe as the wealthiest and most stable continent in the world, Juncker called upon member states to adopt European Commission proposals on the emergency relocation of 160,000 refugees currently in Italy, Greece and Hungary at the Extraordinary Council of Interior Ministers on Sept. 14.
“We now need immediate action,” he said of the refugees flowing in from Syria, Libya and across North Africa and the Middle East. “We cannot leave Italy, Greece and Hungary to fare alone. Just as we would not leave any other EU member state alone. For if it is Syria and Libya people are fleeing from today, it could just as easily be Ukraine tomorrow.”
However, new figures from the UN’s refugee agency, UNHCR, show that the 160,000 refugee quota represents less that 4 percent of the 4 million refugees currently in countries surrounding Syria. Within Ukraine, the UN says it is aware of 1.5 million internally displaced persons, but cautions that the actual number is likely to be higher.
Sandra MacKenzie can be reached at [email protected]
