When Timmermans met with Zelensky last Monday, he brought with him no promises of weapons, but rather a pamphlet of the Green Deal he proposed. And while that doesn’t seem to be what Ukraine needs most, Timmermans underscores his role. “Because you have to look at it very closely,” he tells Hahn. “At the European Commission we have tanks or weapons to give.”
On the contrary, the European Commission includes huge amounts of expertise, which Ukraine in particular can put to good use in the future. “This expertise is needed for economic upheavals, for modernization and to be able to follow the path to becoming a member of the European Union,” he continues. ‘And Ukrainians on the street or in politics all have one heartfelt desire: to become a member of the European Union. We can help with that.’
Pile
Timmermans says he gives Ukrainians hope that they will be helped in this, especially given the situation the country is currently in. “If we take all these steps now, while the war is still going on, they will have the hope of having a chance to become a member of the European Union,” says Timmermans. ‘They could be part of a modern and sustainable economy. Everyone wants it, and it is our job in the European Commission to take concrete steps in this direction. That’s why we’re already starting with that now.’
Reconstruction
While the war doesn’t appear to be over yet, there is cautious talk in Ukraine of rebuilding the country, and there’s a reason why Timmermans is aiming for a green rebuild. “We are in a moment of fundamental transformation,” he says. ‘There is a climate crisis, but we are also in an industrial revolution. And the euros that Ukraine will soon have to invest in rebuilding its country will be able to better invest in the economy and society of the future.’
Emphasize that if that doesn’t happen, it will probably have to end in a few years. “Otherwise they are rebuilding something that will have to be rebuilt several years from now. So you better take the step for the future.’
Important turning points
Most importantly: Zelensky and Ukraine also want to go green. “He says it in all of his speeches, so I think it’s our job to back them up,” Timmermans continues. ‘The war obviously does not concern only Ukraine, but also Europe. It is one of the great turning points in European history, on the same level as the fall of the Berlin Wall. And we need to make sure we’re on the right side of that story.
And according to Timmermans there is no doubt which side he is on. And that means supporting Ukraine to remain free, to win this war and to face the future with confidence. Transformation is necessary for this, we must move towards a sustainable society.’