ECR Group Co-Chairman Nicola Procaccini has warned that Europe’s response to the ongoing Middle East crisis must address its structural weaknesses on energy, which continue to drive up prices and expose citizens and industry to external shocks.

Speaking in plenary in Strasbourg, Procaccini said:

“The crisis in the Middle East reminds us that our freedom is only a loan if we remain hostage to the blackmail of others.”

He underlined that Europe must avoid both geopolitical naïvety and strategic drift:

“The Iranian threat itself is not an American or Israeli invention. The European Union must not be dragged into militaristic adventures, but it must not forget its place in the world either, in the division that exists between the Western democracies and the regimes that govern Iran, Russia, North Korea and China.”

Procaccini pointed to Europe’s growing energy dependence as a central driver of both high costs and political inconsistency. Recent developments in Spain illustrate the risks of an unbalanced approach to energy policy, combining continued reliance on external suppliers like Russia with structural vulnerabilities in the energy system.

“Pedro Sánchez, in the past month, has increased purchases of liquefied gas from Putin by 124 per cent. Far from Orbán, Sánchez has surpassed everyone in imports of fossil fuels from Russia, effectively becoming the European Union’s main sponsor of Putin’s war in Ukraine”, he said.

According to Procaccini, the major blackout in Spain on 28 April serves as a warning for Europe of what can happen when there is excessive reliance on certain renewable energy sources only.

“I do not demonise them, let me be clear, just as I do not demonise any other energy sources. Because we need them all. The only thing we do not need is the hypocrisy of the left, which has condemned us to the Green Deal, to measures such as CBAM, which drive up the cost of importing those fertilisers whose production is effectively banned in Europe”, said Procaccini.

“Europe’s main problem today lies in its inability to produce energy, not only from wind and solar, but also from nuclear and from its own gas and oil reserves”, he added.

Procaccini also criticised the economic consequences of current EU policies, particularly for key sectors such as agriculture, where rising fertiliser costs are placing additional pressure on farmers.

The ECR Group emphasises that a sustainable European strategy must be based on technological neutrality, increased domestic production, and a realistic assessment of global dependencies — ensuring both security and affordability for citizens and businesses.

“As long as we remain dependent on others, we will never be truly free and secure”, said Procaccini.

ENDS

Procaccini’s speech reads in full:

Thank you, President, President von der Leyen,

The crisis in the Middle East reminds us that our freedom is only a loan if we remain hostage to the blackmail of others. The Iranian threat itself is not an American or Israeli invention.The European Union must not be dragged into militaristic adventures, but it must not forget its place in the world either, in the division that exists between the Western democracies and the regimes that govern Iran, Russia, North Korea and China.

Being strong does not only mean being well armed but also being independent from others in one’s own economy. Europe’s main problem today lies in its inability to produce energy, not only from wind and solar, but also from nuclear and from its own gas and oil reserves. Instead, it prefers to buy energy from abroad. Often from the very regimes I mentioned earlier.

Pedro Sánchez, in the past month, has increased purchases of liquefied gas from Putin by 124 per cent. Far from Orbán, Sánchez has surpassed everyone in imports of fossil fuels from Russia, effectively becoming the European Union’s main sponsor of Putin’s war in Ukraine. A war to which we then provide a €90 billion loan to defend itself from the very man we have financed. — Brilliant!

By the way, at 12:33 on 28 April last year, Spain experienced the most serious blackout in European history. It caused deaths and injuries, as well as enormous economic damage. It was caused by the intermittency of certain renewable energy sources. I do not demonise them, let me be clear, just as I do not demonise any other energy sources. Because we need them all. The only thing we do not need is the hypocrisy of the left, which has condemned us to the Green Deal, to measures such as CBAM, which drive up the cost of importing those fertilisers whose production is effectively banned in Europe.

As long as we remain dependent on others, we will never be truly free and secure.

Thank you.