European Union (EU) is becoming mature – its relationship with Russia is evolving to a more rational, less slavish and it is realized more often what the real situation is actually like, states a member of European Parliament Vytautas Landsbergis, delfi.lt reported on 26 June.
“Lithuania, along with the world, have changed. There were different presidents in Russia. There was also a different relationship between EU and Russia, which is altering. As far as I see, it is moving in a more rational and mindful direction – less boot-licking and more realization as to how things really are, less illusions,” he spoke in a meeting with journalists.
According to V. Landsbergis, earlier EU cultivated many illusions – it saw itself as the great economic power of the world, capable of standing aside U.S.A. and Japan, just with one condition – if only it had a source of energy.
“Some think, that there is a friend, who will provide us with a source of energy and we will be powerful. But the question, what will the friend ask for in exchange, never occurred – they will simply sell, because that is business. Europe has started to comprehend that this will not happen: the friend will require infrastructure, he will yearn to overtake the networks in the continent. There were also examples of how it is dealt with neighbours who are unwilling to give the networks away,” said the MEP about Russia.
Nevertheless, he noted that “Europe is becoming slightly more mature and we are a part of that maturing Europe,” therefore Lithuania’s plans to avoid monopolization and dictate in the energy sector will be implemented, if Europe will “support us sufficiently”.
“And EU will also see that it is possible to gain more independence from Russia, because, really, the independence of Europe is in question. Here a very significant factor will be Lithuania itself, its determination and political will,” stressed V.Landsbergis.
Translated by Aistė Saulytė
There isn’t much to disagree with; this is pragmatism. I do not see the EU toadying to Russia; the evidence suggests otherwise. I have penned a number of articles on Russia’s wooing of Europe, only to be rebuffed time after time.
Yes, the EU has seen itself as omnipotent. This was quite a ludicrous mindset; something akin to the USSR seeing itself as such up to the late1980s.
The problem with the EU is that it is only nominally democratic and accountable; in truth it is far from it. As a consequence they can indulge themselves by being sniffy about international relationships.
Like the U.S., everything they do seem designed to antagonize those countries which, if approached more diplomatically, would enrich the European Union. Russia’s leaders, who are far more electorally accountable than the EU’s leadership, are a great deal more mature and I find their patience when courting the EU commendable.