Speech by President Séamus Boland, EESC plenary debate with Parliament President Roberta Metsola

EESC plenary debate on The EU's responses to (geo-) political challenges in 2023 – the perspective of the European Parliament

Speech by Civil Society Organisations' Group President Séamus Boland

Dear President,

I would like to begin by thanking you for taking the time to speak to us today – it is very much appreciated and you are very welcome.

There is no doubt that the invasion of Ukraine, this aggression of Russia against a sovereign country, has resulted in a tectonic shift in the global geo-political landscape. The European Union is at the centre of this tectonic shift. How we respond this year, will determine our reputation, external relations, energy market, industrial model and levels of poverty within the EU.

Regrettably, the financial sanctions imposed almost one year ago on Russia, have been much less effective than we had anticipated. Russia's economy has adjusted and the country has even become a global exporter of grain. In my opinion, the war will not end in the near future, dispelling the naivety of European nations who had hoped for a short war.  One cannot help remembering a similar naivety at the beginning of the First World War.

So my question to you, Madame President, is the following: How should the EU best prepare and manage the implications of a long war between Russia and Ukraine?'. This is a fundamental question for three reasons. Firstly, because there is a real fear that Member States will waver from their commitments on climate change. In my own country Ireland, recent targets have been revisited and revised. Similarly, Germany has re-opened coal-fired power plants. How will the EU stay the course on climate change in a medium to long-term war?

Secondly, we can all see that energy inflation is overflowing into the rest of Europe's economy. This energy inflation together with the American green subsidies, officially called the 'Inflation Reduction Act', could put Europe at risk of de-industrialisation. And all of this, at a time when Europe is trying to fulfil key pre-war objectives on re-industrialisation.

Thirdly, Europe is 98% dependent on China for rare earth minerals. These are needed for wind power, hydrogen storage and batteries. Could we not imagine a scenario where China invades Taiwan, taking advantage of the current political and economic fallout from the war in Ukraine? The international community, including the EU, has already been very naïve, when we ignored warnings that Russia would not stop at the 2014 annexation of Crimea. Perhaps we should be planning contingency measures for a war with a 2^nd front, something that would completely devastate Europe's economic vitality.

Before bringing my comments to a close, I would like to state that politics and policies must be firmly rooted in society. Regrettably, CSOs are often relegated to service provision, whereas we need more opportunities for CSOs to use their skills, networks and knowledge, and to help identify and implement solutions. CSOs will be particularly necessary given the increasing levels of poverty, including energy poverty, which are a direct consequence of the war in Ukraine.  Thank you for your attention.