“We must defend ourselves, because this is no longer just hybrid warfare. We are witnessing real attacks on warehouses and ships. This is an actual war against Europe, so let us stop sleeping through it. We need to take concrete action and explain to people that this is really happening.”
This was stated by Austrian MEP Helmut Brandstätter of Renew Europe in a live interview with BNR’s “Strasbourg Calling” programme from the European Parliament in Strasbourg. Brandstätter is a member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Special Committee on the European Democracy Shield. He also took part in the debate on the Black Sea following attacks on commercial vessels.
Asked by BNR's Irina Nedeva whether the EU could still rely on the United States as a strategic ally if US President Donald Trump was prepared to put fuel prices and his domestic political interests ahead of a united effort to pressure the Kremlin, or whether Trump had become a factor forcing Europe to develop its own security policy in response to his decisions, Brandstätter said he had been deeply disappointed by some of Trump's recent remarks about the role of the European Union and the suggestion that it had been created to counter the United States.
“Sometimes, when I hear what Donald Trump says, I wonder whether it is simply stupidity or some kind of deliberate strategy,” he commented, citing Trump's deal with Vladimir Putin on diesel fuel as an example.
“Europe must stand on its own feet, get back up and rely on itself, but at the same time, I hope Europe will manage to maintain very good relations with the United States,” the MEP said.
In his view, Europe needs a strong leader at this moment.
Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev supported the deal, arguing that Europe was struggling with high fuel prices. Asked where pragmatism ends and the undermining of European solidarity with Ukraine begins, Brandstätter replied:
“Every prime minister must consider what is best for their own people, but they must also recognise that their country would benefit from EU member states standing united and acting together,” the Austrian MEP stressed.
High diesel prices are not the result of the war in Ukraine, but of Trump's war in the Strait of Hormuz, the Austrian politician emphasised, warning:
“Any prime minister of an EU member state can ask for and expect solidarity from the other member states under the EU treaties. With a deal with Trump, however, you never know what to expect.”
Serbia is a very important country, Helmut Brandstätter also noted, commenting on the elections there:
“As an observer on the ground, I will work to ensure that I can be confident these are fair elections. Our task on Sunday will be to be at the polling stations from 6 a.m. until 8 p.m., observing what happens, talking to people, the media and politicians, and reporting honestly on what we see.”
“Serbia, like every other European country, has the right to become a member of the European Union, just as you in Bulgaria and we in Austria have joined. But for that to happen, Serbia must adopt the EU's common legal framework and all European laws. We must be sure that it is a country where the press is free and human rights are respected,” he explained.
Irina Nedeva’s full interview with MEP Helmut Brandstätter was aired on BNR's Horizon channel and can be heard HERE.