Ina Strazdiņa: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov recently said in an interview that EU sanctions do not affect Russia at all and that soon Europe itself will pray to Russia. How do you see European sanctions really working?
Leida Makginesa: Sanctions are an extremely important weapon against Russia. And their goal is to weaken Russia’s war capabilities. If we look at what we have done since February 24, we have six sanctions packages, and each subsequent one is deeper and more thorough. The reason I am in Riga, Latvia is to see how these sanctions are implemented. It is really good to see how everything is going, how proactive Latvia is. And it is very important to me that all EU member states implement these sanctions equally and effectively. So I really wouldn’t listen to the comments of any Russian person who says otherwise. Over time, you will see that the sanctions introduced by the EU together with the USA, Canada, Great Britain will have a huge impact. And so it is now and will continue.
Ina Strazdiņa: What did you conclude here in Latvia, how the sanctions have been introduced and what consequences they might have on our economy?
Leida Makginesa: The sanctions are affecting Russia, but we have been very honest with our citizens in saying that they will also affect our economy. But they are not comparable to the suffering of Ukrainians. What I see already, also at this meeting in Riga, is that the mechanisms for the implementation and coordination of sanctions are very strong, and that is why I want to visit all EU member states to see the best practices, share them and also find out where there are difficulties and what could be the solutions. What makes me very happy is that all the Member States are very united, even if many sectors are affected, and there is a willingness to go further because there is a lot of public support.
The example of Latvia is particularly encouraging, but of course we also know that member states have different opportunities, but we learn from each other.
The strength of the EU remains its unity and the ability of countries to learn from each other and to withstand the economic pressure caused by these sanctions together.
Ina Strazdiņa: Autumn and winter are approaching, which will be a difficult time, prices are rising, people are getting tired. How to maintain the desire to support Ukraine, what should governments do?
Leida Makginesa: My first visit to Latvia was several years ago in winter, and I understand very well what warmth means here, and we all know that the next winter could be difficult. If we did nothing, there would be problems, but we have been very proactive. In our sanctions, we have already given up Russian fossil fuels, we want to get rid of oil and gas. And we have to be prepared that Russia can completely cut off the gas in one day already. The European Commission has already worked in this direction to ensure European countries. The directive was adopted yesterday about saving energy. These are clear signals that we want to be prepared for the worst. Of course, there is also the parallel “green” thinking that we need to get rid of fossil fuels anyway to fight climate change, so now is the right time to increase investment in this area. However, the issue of public fatigue is, of course, extremely important. And that’s completely understandable. However, our political leaders in the European Commission also say very clearly that we want this war to end. And that’s why we have to be very solidary with Ukraine, and not only yesterday and today, but also in the future.
What is happening in Ukraine, this human suffering, Russia’s efforts to use food as a weapon, creating world hunger, is terrible and immoral.
We may feel insecure about what will happen, what will happen to energy and so on, but we must remember that it is in crises that the EU proves itself at its best. For example, during Covid-19, we really united and were ready to implement all the necessary measures. But the challenges associated with Ukraine are even greater. But the EU is very strong in its unity, and I see it in all the member states. Of course, there are always discussions about what happens next, that’s natural. Governments should, of course, address the most vulnerable sections of society and provide assistance so that those who are already struggling do not suffer even more. Even before the war, we already saw rising energy prices and supply chain difficulties, all of which remain, but have now become even more acute. But it is also an opportunity to make the right decisions in a crisis. And it is right to maintain solidarity with Ukraine. And I’m really very moved to see how strong it is here.
Ina Strazdiņa: You yourself come from Ireland. How do people feel about the war in Ukraine? Worried about it?
Leida Makginesa: I think February 24 was a huge wake-up call. People in this part of Europe sensed much more acutely and clearly that such an invasion might take place. We have a lot of Ukrainian refugees in Ireland, mostly women with children and old people. Our Prime Minister has said that we will always welcome war refugees with open arms. Of course, as elsewhere, we need to think about our energy needs, and of course this again goes hand in hand with inflation, rising interest rates and so on. But this is the reality that all of Europe is facing. We believe that high inflation will remain this year, but next year will be different.
It is a time of great uncertainty in the EU and the whole world is at a major turning point. No one could have predicted that war and crimes of this scale would take place on European soil. I live for the younger generation. But the EU is a peace project. That is why we granted Ukraine the status of an EU candidate country. We welcome countries that want peace. And whatever it takes, we must be strong and focused. We are an advanced union, we have a long history of how we are able to deal with crises. And this is again a new situation in which we have a great responsibility.
But when I think of the difficulties of Europe, I remember the faces of the children who died in Ukraine, and I hope that we will never become immune to these images and never harden our hearts.
And let’s always think about it before we start worrying about our difficulties.
Ina Strazdiņa: Indeed, the unity you mention seems particularly important to us. But we know that, for example, Hungary asked for exceptions to the sanctions, and this raises doubts about the true unity of Europe.
Leida Makginesa: The EU in which I grew up and lived with and worked in is a union of different opinions. We may enter a room with different attitudes, but we always find a solution there. I’m not so much concerned about these exceptions that someone has asked for, but that in this room where we are all, everyone has a common belief about the goal we are going for and the meaning of it. We are really united in this respect, even if there have been some concerns. And indeed, as I said, in the worst moments, Europe is able to come together and show great strength, because we know that if the opposite happens, everyone will suffer. That is why it is very important for me to be in the Baltics, because then I can share my concerns here with others. And also at European Commission meetings, I listen to the Baltic commissioners very much, because they know history and can best tell what is really happening.
Ina Strazdiņa: Could the European Union go even further with sanctions?
Leida Makginesa: We have said from the beginning in February that everything is still on the table. We had the first package of sanctions, and then we went even further. And I repeat – everything is not exhausted yet. Here, I heard from both civil society and political leaders that we need to go further. And we take that into account and constantly think about what else we can do. Serious sanctions are already in place and I want to see their absolute implementation. But we will not stop, and new ones will follow if necessary.
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