The most important tasks of the EU in relation to Russia’s attack on Ukraine are resolutions to stop this war, provide support to Ukraine in its fight for freedom, assistance to Ukrainian refugees and work on complete energy independence, said First Vice-President of the European Parliament Othmar Karas in an interview with LETA. He underscored that this war and conclusions from the Conference on the Future of Europe demonstrate that we should develop a joint EU foreign, security and defense policy.

What do you think about the EU reaction to Russia’s attack in Ukraine?

We understand that Latvia sees the Ukrainian war almost like a war in a neighboring country. It is not only in the focus of the EU, it should be in the focus of the world democracies because it is a war, not just a tiny conflict. It is Russia’s war against European democracy, against our understanding of democracy, our common values. It is a war against the EU and democracy, therefore, we should fight this together, we should fight it with all the instruments we have.

The EU Council recently decided to apply the fifth package of sanctions, we have to prepare the sixth and the seventh packages if Russia does not stop the war. It is clear that this should be done. We have learned much, we have strengthened our independence from Russia - on the security level, on the energy level, also, we should strengthen our unity within the EU. If we are united, we are much more efficient.

This war also affects debates on Europe’s future - on the one hand, we should form joint EU foreign, security and defense policy, on the other hand - the European Energy Union so that we could be fully independent from Russia and develop internal solidarity within EU to help each other because our member states are in different realities in relation to energy.

Also, we need a joint refugee and migration policy. Right now, Poland, the Baltic states and Bulgaria admit most of Ukrainian refugees, but we need a solidarity mechanism also within the EU so that we could help each other. It is clear that our message will be based on three pillars - fight against Russia’s war and support to Ukraine in its fight for freedom, peace and sovereignty, assistance to refugees and development of full energy independence.

Why was the Austrian chancellor the first Western leader to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow?

Before Moscow, he also visited Kyiv. As far as I know he discussed his visit to Moscow with [Ukrainian] President [Volodymyr] Zelensky. I am confident that his visit has been discussed also in European institutions. Of course, we may have different opinions about this visit, but Austria has always supported the full package of sanctions, and there is not even a rumor that Austria might think differently. I am positive about any negotiations that show benefits. The EU strategy does not change - to fight against Russia’s war in Ukraine with sanctions, simultaneously using all possible channels for negotiations.

EU policy against Russia has been criticized often - it would have been effective in relation to a democratic country, but it is ineffective to such an authoritarian regime as Russia. Should we change it?

First of all, it is not so that we are only negotiating, we are also acting. The fifth package of sanctions is the strongest package of sanctions we have ever approved. Sanctions are efficient. And these are not just EU sanctions, we have good relations with the transatlantic alliance, the US, Also, we have a strong support from the UK, Switzerland, Australia, Canada and other countries. The Western world is cooperating closely, working together. Second, the EU for the first time has made a decision to use European money to strengthen the Ukrainian armed forces. Many member states have sent weapons to Ukraine, other countries have sent money and other kinds of assistance. I think that the EU has been united since February 24. It is absolute necessity. If we are not united, we play Putin’s game. We must be united.

The European Parliament last week made one step further, with a support of 93 percent of lawmakers, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on a complete energy embargo, suspending energy imports from Russia. We should constantly look for what else should be done in the fight against this aggression and in support to Ukraine and what consequences it will leave on Europe. We should establish a special program for these consequences, but we are willing to pay this price. We should look for the best ways to do this responsibility, but we wish to continue.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen visited Kyiv and clearly said that the Ukrainians have the European perspective. She said that the next EU step will be suspension of Russian oil import. Also, we should consider the matter of fossil energy. So far, the EU is paying EUR 1 billion to Russia every day for energy import, and this money becomes a part of the war budget. Therefore, it is essential to reduce the cash flow from Europe to Russia. We are aware of that, therefore, we should find a solution soon.

One of the results of the Conference on the Future of Europe is that we should develop joint foreign, security and defense policy, we should invest in defense equipment, in compatibility of defense organizations of all member states - we should be more united in this respect. Second, we should achieve energy independence sooner, we should have more solidarity within the EU, assisting refugees.

What do you forecast for future of Ukraine in the EU?

First of all, we should act very clearly and concisely, and we are doing it. We can do it if we are united, thus, it is a political process. On the other hand, we should help Ukraine. Just now, there was a donor conference for Ukrainian refugees in Warsaw, raising EUR 10 billion from member states and our international partners. We should continue organizing such donor conferences. And it is clear that after the war - not only the EU, but the whole global community should help to restore Ukraine’s infrastructure.

From the point of view of Europe, the political will of Ukrainian citizens [to near the EU] helps us allocate money from our budget. Thus, it is a procedural issue how to support Ukraine until it becomes an EU member state, which will be a long process.

The political signal we sent is a strong EU support to Ukraine and, in this way, we show where Ukraine’s future will be. It is not only a political signal, we have given Ukraine the opportunity to use EU budget resources. We are doing everything we should do. Ukrainian citizens should be aware that we are their partners, the Ukrainian citizens are European citizens.

The Conference on the Future of Europe is in your focus of attention. How can you assess its success?

This process is not over yet. There are still plenary sessions being held, discussing ideas and wishes of thousands of citizens. We should choose then which projects will be implemented and what outcome they will bring. We should communicate all our steps with the citizens. In my opinion, we still need a convention, amendments to the EU Treaty to achieve a joint defense, security and foreign policy, democratizing EU, ensuring an opportunity to make democratic decisions, giving up the principle of majority rule. We should get down to projects that can be implemented quickly.

The work of the conference continues. I am responsible for implementation of its results in real life, and this stage will start on May 9. In order to collect results and outcome of the conference, the parliaments, governments of the member states, the European Commission should discuss them first. Then we will start implementing the results in real life.

How will this implementation be controlled in real life? Who will do it?

We are the lawmakers, we will be responsible for implementation. The European Parliament will chair the debate on implementation, and we have to guarantee that it will be done.

How severely was the Conference affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and now the war in Ukraine?

It was not easy. I am a politician, I need personal contact. I should be able to look people into the eyes. On the other hand, in the modern world we should be able to fully use the digital solutions, therefore, we have many internet platforms that are being used by thousands of people. The situation presented problems, but we should be aware that in the future communication will not be only in person, besides, we can reach more people, using digital platforms. We should work on different levels - citizens, parliamentary and also digital level.

We have learned very much, it was not easy, but now we have to apply the experience in real life. The European Parliament is the largest multinational parliament in the world with elected lawmakers. Thus, we should have a special role in this process.

What do you think about activity of citizens?

Always it can be said that more would have been better. This was the first time we started such a process, and, in my opinion, it is working. Results of the work of citizen panels are very direct and ambitious, and it is what we need to give our citizens the opportunity to be a part of the debate on the future of Europe. Because the future of Europe is our future.

What is the development of the Conference on the Future of Europe? How do you see it continue?

The conference itself should conclude. But we should learn how to intensify the dialogue of citizens in our everyday lawmaking process. In all member states, in different regions there are European information centers, European schools. We will open Europe Direct information center in Latvia on May 1, targeting the Russian-speaking region. We are constantly looking for ways to improve our communication with citizens. This does not refer only to European politicians because Europe is everywhere - we need all citizens to make this European project, European idea and mission theirs. We should ensure a larger engagement of Europeans because all together we are the architects of the future of Europe. Every one of us.