The different stances on Russia among the parties that have so far joined the new Patriots for Europe group in the European Parliament are not problematic, according to the group’s Czech member, ANO, which also said that instead of looking for allies with the same views on Russia, the focus was on finding allies with the same views on the functioning of the European Union.
“We were looking for allies who would share the same view of the functioning of the Union,“ said ANO vice-president Karel Havlíček on Monday at ANO’s press conference following the launch of the political group.
According to Havlíček, ANO’s opinion has not changed and continues to criticise Russian aggression. Havlíček even condemned the latest air strike on Ukraine, which destroyed a children’s hospital.
However, the new EU group has already come under fire from Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala (ODS, ECR), known for his strong support for Ukraine.
“Let’s call a spade a spade. Patriots for Europe serves Russia’s interests. Consciously or unconsciously. And in doing so, they threaten the security and freedom of Europe,“ Fiala wrote on X on Monday.
Babiš denounced Fiala’s accusations as “nonsense”.
“It is the same old song that even the prime minister cannot believe,” Babiš said. “I would also like that (Russia’s defeat), so let him (Fiala) make it happen,” Babiš said. Peace and an end to the fighting is ANO’s priority, he added.
Orbán’s trips to Moscow and Beijing: ‘At least he’s doing something’
The criticism comes on the heels of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s foreign trips to Moscow and Beijing. Babiš defended Orbán.
“Orbán holds the EU presidency and, unlike (Prime Minister Petr) Fiala, he is doing something about it [the war in Ukraine],” he said.
Babiš expects Orbán to report the results to world leaders at the NATO meeting in Washington.
However, the country holding the presidency of the EU Council is not responsible for the EU’s foreign and security policy, as it used to be before the changes brought about by the Lisbon Treaty.
This policy is now the responsibility of the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and, to some extent, the president of the European Council.
(Kateřina Horáková | Euractiv.cz)
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Publish date : 2024-07-09 07:00:00
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The post Common position on Russia not crucial for new far-right EU group – Euractiv first appeared on Love Europe.
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Publish date : 2024-10-06 20:37:43
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