Ahead of a European Council widely seen as critical, ECR Co-Chairman Patryk Jaki (PiS, Poland) delivered a sharp assessment of the EU’s current direction during Wednesday’s European Parliament debate, warning that Europe’s geopolitical weakness is self-inflicted and rooted in years of failed policies under Brussels’ leadership.

Speaking in the presence of Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Jaki argued that Europe has lost credibility, competitiveness and deterrence power, leaving it exposed both to Russian aggression and external pressure.

“Russia has never kept any agreement and never will keep one in the future. With Russia one must speak the only language that it understands: that is force,” Jaki said.

He criticised the EU’s handling of Russia and called for the immediate confiscation of Russian assets to support Ukraine’s war effort.

“Immediately confiscate its funds and give all confiscated funds to the war, so that Russia receives that which it deserves,” he said.

Jaki also rejected claims that the United States is responsible for divisions within Europe, placing responsibility squarely on Brussels and its political leadership.

“If you say that the United States is dividing Europe, then one must ask whether it is not the case that the United States benefits only from a divided and weak Europe, which you have created,” he said.

Turning to Europe’s broader economic and political trajectory, Jaki accused the EU institutions of undermining competitiveness, innovation and freedom through over-regulation and ideological policymaking.

“You destroyed industry and innovation. Instead of dealing with development, you are dealing with censorship,” Jaki said.

He warned that excessive regulation, restrictions on freedom of speech and new pressures on agriculture are further weakening the continent, while centralising power in Brussels without delivering results.

“Europe can be great again, but not with people who made it small, ideological, and ridiculous,” Jaki concluded.

Mr Jaki’s speech reads in full:

Madam Commissioner,

Russia has never kept any agreement and never will keep one in the future. With Russia, one must speak the only language that it understands: that is force. Its funds must be confiscated immediately, and all confiscated funds must be used for the war, so that Russia receives that which it deserves.

However, if you say that the United States is dividing Europe, then one must ask whether it is not the case that the United States merely benefits from a divided and weak Europe, a Europe that you have created and for which you are responsible. Through 20 years of your rule, you have reduced the EU’s share of global GDP by almost half.

You led to the collapse of industry and the lowering of its competitiveness. You pumped money into Russia. You set nations against each other. You brought in migrants. You destroyed energy sovereignty. Instead of democracy, you are introducing Orwellian sanitary cordons. You have poisoned traditional culture and education.

You have destroyed industry and innovation. Instead of dealing with development, you are dealing with censorship. At this session, once again, you want to squander Europeans’ money on what you call the most necessary things, like abortion on demand.

The United States could never have imposed tariffs, and Russia would not have started a war, if the European Union were different. The Union was supposed to be the largest and best free-trade zone in the world. Instead, because of you, it started measuring carbon dioxide, spreading leftist ideology and punishing states that want to defend traditional values.

Will we become the first at inventing new regulations? We need fewer regulations, less Green Deal, fewer of your ideas, and more freedom — for business and for ordinary people. We need more freedom of speech and less repression.

And now you are also pushing Europe towards the destruction of its own agriculture. You have made the old continent a laughingstock and are steering it towards becoming an open-air museum. And now you are shouting: give us more power, because we know how to do it.

Well, no. For these 20 years, you have shown that you do not know how to do it. Today, the United States is only benefiting from the weakness that you have built here. Europe can be great again, but not with people who made it small, ideological, and ridiculous.