In her speech to MEPs in Strasbourg, Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin called on Europe to support Ukraine militarily and increase Europe's energy independence through renewable energy sources.
Europe needs strategic autonomy
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Addressing MEPs in Strasbourg as part of the series of debates "This is Europe”, Prime Minister of Finland Sanna Marin said that the Ukrainians have proven their courage and perseverance and must win the war - there is no alternative. Europeans must therefore continue to provide Ukraine with all kinds of aid. They should also be ready to adopt even stricter sanctions and visa restrictions against Russia, she continued. Russia's short-sighted actions have already led to an even more united Western Alliance, Marin said, not just with Finland and Sweden applying for NATO membership.
Investments in renewable and emission-free energy
Referring to the unstable situation in energy markets, Marin called for short-term measures to reduce electricity prices, solving the problem of turbulence in electricity markets and problems with derivatives trading. In the medium and long term, only investments in renewable and emission-free energy, additional transmission networks and storage will end the energy crisis. She argued that investing in the green transformation also increases our independence.
The crises have revealed weaknesses
The EU has proven its ability to act in a variety of crisis situations, Marin said. At the same time, these crises revealed weaknesses. Europe should now strengthen its strategic autonomy: in the fields of energy, defense material production, food sovereignty and technology. In responding to crises and challenges, the EU needs an adequate budget. At the same time, loosening the EU's fiscal rules is not the best way to reform the European Union. The Reconstruction and Resilience Fund was a one-off, though necessary, instrument, Marin said. It also called for further improvements to the EU's rules-based economic governance to better take account of social issues, employment and the environment.
The current crisis is not the first and will not be the last in Europe, said Sanna Marin. That is why she called on Europe to oppose Russian energy fraud, stay united and uphold its values: the rule of law, democracy and human rights.
It was the sixth debate "This is Europe”, Which took place in the European Parliament
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Photo: Prime Minister of Finland Sanna Marin / chancellery of the Prime Minister of Finland
Source: European Parliament
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