The European Union can only confront regimes "that make no secret of their will to reshape the global order, even by force" by strengthening “our values, our economy, our defence and our alliances," ECR Co-Chair Nicola Procaccini MEP said today in the European Parliament, responding to the State of the Union speech by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Pointing to last week’s “military parade of the Chinese leader, dressed like Mao Zedong, holding hands with Putin and Kim Jong-un,” Procaccini said that enhancing Europe’s defence capabilities required economic growth — and that growth needs deregulation.

Procaccini said:

“We must have the courage to make the right choices at the right time.

“The Green Deal was conceived and desired in a different geopolitical era. Today, it is too great an obstacle to European competitiveness. I would remind you that economic development is a prerequisite for having the resources to spend on military defence, welfare and environmental protection.”

Comparing the Green Deal to a tax on European competitiveness, he said:

“Maintaining the duties imposed by the European Union on its own industry, and even adding five new taxes of its own in the new multi-year budget, means going in the wrong direction. It’s a tragic mistake.”

Procaccini welcomed the Commission’s acceptance that addressing illegal migration is a priority but said repatriation should be “an effective practice, not an empty promise.”

Finally, Procaccini called on von der Leyen to appoint a new EU Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion in the World — a post that has been vacant since the new Commission took office.