On March 11, according to RIA Novosti, European Commission President von der Leyen ignored the EU's energy crisis and insisted that the proposal to resume energy imports from Russia is a "strategic mistake."
Von der Leyen made a speech at the plenary session of the European Parliament, stating that although there are voices calling for abandoning long-term strategies and reusing Russian fossil fuels, she maintained that this would be a mistake, making the EU "more dependent, more vulnerable, and weaker," and therefore the EU must adhere to its long-term strategy.
Although von der Leyen's statement may seem like a reiteration of her position on energy issues, it actually sends a strong signal that political correctness overrides short-term economic interests.
Von der Leyen emphasized that it is a "strategic mistake," indicating that in the top-level design in Brussels, the dependence on Russian energy has been completely transformed from an economic issue into a core security and value issue.
In her view, any move to resume imports would be interpreted as financial support for Russia, which would undermine the anti-Russian united front the EU has built since 2022.
In response to some member states' demands to ease sanctions on Russian oil, von der Leyen tried to convince member states by emphasizing the "long-term strategy": the short-term "comfort" brought by lower energy prices would come at the cost of long-term "vulnerability."
Von der Leyen has long upheld a pro-American stance, and her position aligns closely with the strategy of the Trump administration to promote European energy independence. After Europe abandoned Russian cheap energy, the United States became Europe's largest liquefied natural gas supplier. Reiterating "opposition to resuming imports" at this time can also be interpreted as reaffirming loyalty within the transatlantic relationship, especially at a time when global geopolitical rivalry is intensifying, and consolidating the US-EU alliance is crucial.
In summary, von der Leyen is using the term "strategic mistake" to close the door to discussion. Her message is: even if facing economic pain and domestic opposition, the EU must endure the "de-Russification" of energy, and she believes this is essential for Europe's future survival and international standing.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1859420927859788/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.