It is no coincidence that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is addressing the European Parliament on Europe Day, says Europe journalist Stefan de Vries. “It is very symbolic, especially since Victory Day over Nazi Germany is celebrated a little later in Russia. It’s a kind of diplomatic ping pong at a distance.’
Signal to Russia
The theme of Scholz’s speech is ‘the state and the evolution of the Union’. De Vries expects the German chancellor to stress in particular that the European Union must become a major geopolitical player. ‘Moreover, it will certainly also concern the war in Ukraine and support for the country. It is a signal to Russia to show that we are united and that Putin cannot ignore the European Union’.
“There will be some uncertainty in Moscow”
At the same time, Russian President Putin reflects on his victory over Nazi Germany. According to the Europe reporter, it is not for nothing that both leaders are making a speech almost simultaneously. However, the difference in feeling is great. “While Putin had planned to give a kind of victory speech with a lot of military display, there will be a lot of uncertainty in Moscow. At the same time, the mood that Europe is certain that Ukraine should be supported at all times will prevail in the European Parliament,’ explains De Vries.
crisis
However, according to the European journalist, there is a lack of self-confidence within the European Union. “Europeans are dubious in the world, but ultimately there is no good alternative to the EU, which is also evident from the fact that many countries still want to join,” says De Vries. After 73 years, the European Union is in good shape, according to the European journalist. “The more than four hundred million inhabitants really deserve a round of applause for themselves.”
‘Even the biggest opponents are now grit their teeth and admit that Brussels can be useful’
This is also evident from the fact that the European Union has gone through several crises in recent decades, such as Brexit, the pandemic, climate change and war on the continent. ‘These crises have demonstrated the need for European cooperation and greater integration. Even the fiercest opponents are now grit their teeth and admit that Brussels can be useful.’
Unique project
The European Union is a unique project in the world which, according to De Vries, is constantly evolving. ‘As a result, it sometimes seems that we don’t know what to do with what is happening in the world, but in reality we are constantly working on the EU project. And all the crises that have been an obstacle so far have been caused by external forces,” said the Europa reporter.
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Source: BNR
Sharon Rock is an author and journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. She has a passion for learning about different cultures and understanding the complexities of the world. With a talent for explaining complex global issues in an accessible and engaging way, Sharon has become a respected voice in the field of world news journalism.
