ECR Co-Chairman Patryk Jaki has criticised the European Commission’s response to the Middle East crisis, warning that current energy policies are driving up prices, weakening Europe’s industry and failing to deliver real solutions for citizens.

Speaking in plenary in Strasbourg, Jaki also pointed to growing political inconsistencies among the major political groups and a lack of genuine democratic spirit, criticising the practice of isolating dissenting voices behind so-called sanitary cordons as a purely political game that does not serve democracy or Europe, saying:

“Madame President, nothing has amused me as much today as the quarrel between the EPP and the socialists. Who cooperates with the right? I mean, the EPP accused the socialists that in Romania it cooperates with the right and that’s bad, and the socialists that in Spain the EPP cooperates with the right and that’s bad. This only shows, first of all, how pointless are the ideas of these sanitary cordons.”

He went on to criticise the Commission President for benefiting from these divisions, arguing that they conceal a broader convergence of policies that fail to address Europe’s real challenges, saying:

“Secondly, it shows that you really don’t differ in anything. You are the same and the only alternative. The real alternative, is us: People who don’t look at who supports whom, but at whether the solution is good or bad.”

Turning to the EU’s response to the energy crisis, Jaki criticised the continued reliance on renewable energy expansion as the primary policy tools, saying:

“And what are the effects? I want to remind you. Energy prices, since we have more renewables, have increased in the EU by almost 100 per cent. Car prices by 30 per cent.”

He warned that these policies are having a direct impact on Europe’s competitiveness and industrial base, saying:

“Our industry, the share of the world’s industry, is falling. It is in a worse and worse state. And the strength of Europe is getting weaker.”

The ECR Co-Chair underlined that Europe must shift towards a more pragmatic and balanced energy strategy, making use of all available sources and focusing on affordability and competitiveness.

“And you, instead, are proposing even more of what has led us to this situation. I want to tell you that this is a dead end”, he said.

Jaki also called for a reassessment of key EU instruments, including emissions trading, warning of further cost increases for citizens, saying:

“So stop ETS now and stop the Green Deal. This will make the Europeans live much better.”

The ECR Group reiterates that Europe’s response to the current geopolitical and economic challenges must prioritise competitiveness, technological neutrality, affordability and realistic policy choices over ideological approaches.

ENDS

Jaki’s full speech reads:

Madame President, nothing has amused me as much today as the quarrel between the EPP and the socialists. Who cooperates with the right? I mean, the EPP accused the socialists that in Romania it cooperates with the right and that’s bad, and the socialists that in Spain the EPP cooperates with the right and that’s bad. This only shows, first of all, how pointless are the ideas of these sanitary cordons.

Secondly, it shows that you really don’t differ in anything. You are the same and the only alternative, the real alternative, is us. People who don’t look at who supports whom, but at whether the solution is good or bad.

And this is exactly how politicians should act. Finally, when it comes to the Middle East, the energy crisis. Ms Ursula Von der Leyen has just said that the most important solution she proposes to us is to raise the coordination in the EU and more renewable energy sources.

I wrote down exactly what she said. And I want to say that since Ms. Ursula von der Leyen has been the leader, she has been doing nothing else but this. I mean, she raises the coordination in the EU and gives more and more renewables.

And what are the effects? I want to remind you. Energy prices, since we have more renewables, have increased in the EU by almost 100%. Car prices by 30%.

Our industry, the share of the world’s industry, is falling. It is in a worse and worse state. And the strength of Europe is getting weaker.

And you, instead, are proposing even more of what has led us to this situation. I want to tell you that this is a dead end. Because so far, renewable energy sources are simply more expensive than traditional energy sources.

And we have our traditional energy sources, which we could use and which would be cheaper. In addition, we need to finally give up ETS and not introduce ETS2. Because ETS2 will raise the energy prices even more.

It will not solve anything it will cause even more problems. So stop ETS for now and stop the Green Deal. This will make the Europeans live much better.