News that the EU are planning to spend €800 billion on the ReArm Europe plan has led to Labour MEP Aodhán Ó Ríordáin saying that any such spending should not be taken from EU social cohesion funds.
The Dublin MEP said the funding should be paid for out of €300 billion in frozen Russian assets.
Ó Ríordáin said, “since Trump’s return to the White House, the unfolding disaster has brought us to a point that feels like a dystopian nightmare. The United States has gone rogue. The harsh reality is that we can no longer rely on America as a dependable defence partner.”
He conceded that “Europe has no choice but to step up; this will entail more defence spending in many EU countries, Ireland included.”
“Our defence forces have been underfunded and undervalued for decades. It is time we invested in them properly.”
Ó Ríordáin’s comments came with a cavaet that EU military funding must not come at the expense of social services such as housing, healthcare and education.
“Ursula von der Leyen’s proposal to raid essential social cohesion funds for rearmament spending must be rejected. Draining this vital financial support for communities would be a gift to the far-right, alienating citizens from the European project,” he said.
He asserted, “the best way to weaken Putin is not by diverting much needed funds from our own people, but by making him pay for the destruction his war has caused; we need an EU-wide decision to fully seize and redirect Russia’s €300 billion in frozen assets.
“The time for half measures is over. From East to West, autocrats are dismantling our global security. Europe must be bold, in both investing in its citizens and standing with Ukraine until the end. That is our moral and political duty. Defending Ukraine is defending democracy.”