The future head of EU diplomacy: ‘My first priority is Ukraine’s victory in the war against Russia’

The proposed candidate for the high representative for foreign and security policy, Kaja Kallas, pointed out on Tuesday that the EU must have clear results in the enlargement policy in the next five years.

– In the next five years, we must have clear results. Expansion is a geostrategic investment and makes our Union stronger, and the new members of our European family more stable and safer – said Kallas in her opening speech at the hearing in the European Parliament. She added that “today’s problems of our neighbors” become our problems tomorrow and that the EU has a great attractive force for the Western Balkans, Ukraine, and Moldova.

Photo: Johanna Geron

The former Estonian prime minister was appointed to the post of high representative by the leaders of the member states and should replace the Spaniard Josep Borrell. The High Representative of the EU for foreign and security policy has a dual role, he chairs the Council for Foreign Affairs and is also the vice-president of the Commission, and therefore, like other commissioners, he must undergo a hearing before the competent committee in the European Parliament.

Kaja Kallas belongs to the liberal political group and is the daughter of Sima Kallas, who was also the Estonian Prime Minister and commissioner of the European Commission. As her first priority, Kallas highlighted Ukraine’s victory in the war against Russia.

– The situation on the front line is very difficult, and that’s why we have to help every day, today, tomorrow and for as long as it takes, with as much military, financial and humanitarian aid as necessary,” she said.

She pointed out that it is unacceptable that Russia, Iran and North Korea produce more military equipment and ammunition than the entire Euro-Atlantic community, that the EU should strengthen the defense industry, which would also make NATO stronger.

Foto: KIN CHEUNG/PRESS ASSOCIATION

– We must invest more in defense and take more responsibility”, said the former Estonian Prime Minister, adding that Europe should not have a separate military alliance, that NATO is the best solution.

Regarding relations with the new American administration of Donald Trump, she said that the EU and the USA are stronger when they work together and cooperate. – We must build relations on what is good for both parties – she said.

She earned great applause from the representatives for her response to the representative of the far-right Alternative for Germany party, Alexander Sell, who accuses the EU of having its policy dictated by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, of wasting billions of euros on aid; to that country and announces that it will continue while the new American president Donald Trump announces that he will stop financing them and that the German economy is suffering and shrinking while Russia’s is growing.

Photo: Thomas Trutschel/DPA

– Everyone wants peace, but there is a difference between peace and peace, we want sustainable peace because if we give in to the aggressor and say that it is okay for him to take what he wants, then all the aggressors will to conclude that aggression pays off and if aggression pays off somewhere, then it serves as an invitation to use it elsewhere. Therefore, we must support Ukraine and not give in to Russia – said Kallas.

Regarding MP Sell’s assertion that the Russian economy is growing, Kallas replied that she was repeating Russian rhetoric.

– The Russian economy is not doing well, the fact that the interest rate of the Russian central bank is 20 percent tells how they evaluate their economy. The Russian national fund is completely exhausted, revenues from the sale of gas are not the same as before because Europe no longer buys it from them – she said.

Photo: Johanna Geron

When asked by Sell how she justifies sanctions against Russia when her husband does business with Russia, Kallas replied that these claims are completely false and have been thoroughly investigated in the Estonian media.

Speaking to the Middle East, Kallas said that an immediate and unconditional ceasefire should be ensured, that the EU should focus on humanitarian aid. and that we should continue to unequivocally insist on a two-state solution.

– The EU’s support to the Palestinian Authority and the recognition of Israel’s right to exist throughout the region are a good basis for our political and diplomatic effort to end the conflict and for what follows after that – she said.

On Tuesday, the process of hearing candidates for commissioners of the European Commission ends. In addition to Kaja Kallas, five candidates for executive vice-presidents will be heard in front of various committees throughout the day.

Photo: Liesa Johannssen

The coordinators of the political groups in charge of the hearings will discuss their performances and make recommendations on Wednesday. Based on these recommendations, the Conference of Presidents of the European Parliament will make a final assessment of all candidates.

Last week, 20 candidates for commissioner were heard and all of them received a positive recommendation, except Hungarian Oliver Varhelyi, who was sent to correctional facilities and had to answer additional written questions. His answers will also be graded on Wednesday.

If all the hearings go well, the European Parliament should vote on the entire Commission at the plenary session in Strasbourg on November 27 and it will take office on December 1.