A clear-eyed and pragmatic approach to the evolving crisis in the Middle East and solidarity with Cyprus must remain central to Europe’s international posture, ECR Co-Chairman Nicola Procaccini told the European Parliament during a plenary debate ahead of the European Council on 19–20 March.

At the same time, he warned that rising geopolitical tensions underline the urgent need for Europe to strengthen its energy sovereignty and reduce strategic dependencies.

Procaccini stressed that instability in the region is already translating into rising fuel and energy prices for European citizens and businesses. He argued that Europe must respond decisively to the economic consequences of the crisis, criticised the effective tax created by the ETS carbon credits and reiterated the ECR Group’s long-standing call for technological openness in energy production, including nuclear power.

Procaccini said:

“Iran is not Europe, of course. And yet, in the men and women, in the young people who look up at the skies of Tehran with a mixture of hope and understandable fear, we recognise the same longing for freedom.”

“The Union of European States must navigate the evolving crisis in the Middle East with clarity and pragmatism. It must not withhold its concrete solidarity from Cyprus. And it must also act decisively to manage the economic consequences of this crisis, which are already weighing on our Member States.”

“The effective tax created by the ETS carbon credits was already questionable when it was introduced at the insistence of radical environmentalists. To refuse to reconsider it now would be a dramatic mistake.”

“The cornerstone of both economic and political stability is energy sovereignty — our ability to produce energy from all available sources, both fossil and renewable, using all available technologies, including nuclear power.”

Procaccini warned that rising fuel costs and surging energy prices are already affecting European economies and stressed that protecting the economic wellbeing of families and businesses must remain a priority.

The debate in the European Parliament took place ahead of the European Council on 19–20 March, where EU leaders are expected to discuss the evolving situation in the Middle East and its geopolitical and economic implications for Europe.

Proccaccini’s full speech reads:

Thank you, President.

The European Union’s credibility on the international stage is the only true guarantee of its internal stability.

Our support for the Ukrainian people must remain at the centre of our international posture. The resistance of Kyiv is the bulwark that protects the European idea — its ancient and its modern values. Iran is not Europe, of course. And yet, in the men and women, in the young people who look up at the skies of Tehran with a mixture of hope and understandable fear, we recognise the same longing for freedom.

The Union of European States must navigate the evolving crisis in the Middle East with clarity and pragmatism. It must not withhold its concrete solidarity from Cyprus. And it must also act decisively to manage the economic consequences of this crisis, which are already weighing on our Member States.

High fuel costs and surging energy prices are the wounds of a conflict that has reached our own continent. Protecting the economic wellbeing of families and businesses must therefore be a priority — and it is one that our Group has consistently defended.

The effective tax created by the ETS carbon credits was already questionable when it was introduced at the insistence of radical environmentalists. To refuse to reconsider it now would be a dramatic mistake.

Yesterday we heard the Commissioner for Energy present a proposal which we broadly welcome. However, it clearly comes late, and it risks remaining only words on paper unless we act swiftly to turn it into reality.

The cornerstone of both economic and political stability is energy sovereignty — our ability to produce energy from all available sources, both fossil and renewable, using all available technologies, including nuclear power.

If we continue to depend on others for energy and for critical raw materials, we will not be free, we will not be prosperous, and we will not be secure.