/ world today news/ The European Commission failed to reassure citizens that it will control the energy crisis and inflation and that the war in Ukraine will be put to an end. This was said by the head of the Delegation of the Bulgarian Socialists in the EP, Petar Vitanov, to radio “Focus”. The Bulgarian socialist commented and echoed the subject of the arrest of GERB leader Boyko Borisov, which entered the agenda of the European Parliament.
“Because of the severe inflationary and energy crisis, all eyes were on the speech of the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. The Europeans expected to find out what the Commission’s response would be to all the crises that befell the EU countries,” commented Petar Vitanov.
According to him, expectations were for a speech that would solve all crises with a magic wand.
“As expected, the focus fell on Ukraine, but positions were missing on two key topics. Nothing was said about how peace would be achieved. Only Ukraine’s military successes were noted, but there were no messages about a political solution to the war in which the EU would play a leading role. The subject of food insecurity on our continent was also missing,” added the MEP.
The focus on Ukraine is also dictated by the growing mistrust of European institutions, he also believes.
“Many European citizens ask themselves whether the sanctions are not punishing them instead of the aggressor and why they are paying the high price of the war. This winter will be very hard and some will have to choose between staying warm and eating. And in order not to have to make this forced choice, there must be collective, effective and sustainable measures,” said Vitanov.
“Patience” was the other key message in Ursula von der Leyen’s speech.
“I am afraid that there are countries like Bulgaria where social tolerance is already very low. Europe is facing a very hard winter, which will have its social but also political consequences, which will result in nationalist and populist parties taking power. And extreme parties that have no experience and cannot govern will deepen the crisis even more,” Vitanov fears.
The socialist drew attention to the EC’s proposal for serious intervention in the energy markets of the Union. A ceiling of EUR 180/mwh is proposed for the revenues of low-cost electricity producers. This includes all nuclear power plants, lignite-fired thermal power plants and renewable energy plants. The difference in price above this ceiling is proposed to go to the budget of the member state, so that this money can be used to help with the electricity bills of households and small and medium-sized businesses.
“If the member state has a large export of electricity – as is Bulgaria, it is proposed that these budget revenues be shared with the member states that are importers of electricity, as their citizens pay them,” said Vitanov and added that this measure must be well thought out.
“Right now, because of the war, some have made millions in profits, and others are languishing. Europe is above all solidarity, and as a socialist I approve of the decision to tax excess profits,” said Vitanov.
Petar Vitanov also commented on the topic of the arrest of Boyko Borisov, which came into the focus of the EP on the day Ursula von der Leyen was drawing the future of the EU.
“Perhaps I will disappoint the Bulgarian public, but there was no interest in the topic in the European Parliament. The hall was mainly attended by representatives of the European People’s Party and Bulgarian journalists, which also confirms the thesis that this is a topic that is primarily for native use. This was also the tone of the debate – Mr. Borisov’s party emphasized that two courts ruled that his arrest was illegal, while the opponents claimed that the EPP raised the issue of the rule of law in Bulgaria too late, and when it concerns its important member,” Vitanov also said.
“The rule of law in Bulgaria cannot apply only to the political leaders, but also to the beaten students under the columns of the Council of Ministers, who neither have the opportunity to hire expensive lawyers, nor have media and political influence. However, this is a national issue that we Bulgarians must solve, and not in a pre-election situation,” concluded Petar Vitanov.
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