This week's episode of Talking Europe takes a bird's-eye view of current events in Europe, with Luuk Van Middelaar, a Dutch historian and political theorist and a professor of EU law at Leiden University. Speaking to Armen Georgian, the historian addresses the EU's approach to the major crises of the past decade, as well as the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Van Middelaar states that the EU has displayed "determination, unity and speed" in its response to the war in Ukraine, including economic sanctions and ongoing discussions on oil and gas which "will hit the Putin regime hard", despite the fact that some countries, such as Germany, had become nearly fully dependent on Russia for gas. He says that Europe is at a "watershed moment" as it "hardens its borders" and "uncouples European economies from the Russian economy".
The historian goes on to say that "once Finland and Sweden are part of NATO, it might create some tensions on the border but it overall will make Europe as a whole stronger" and that it will make the Baltic states much "safer, militarily". Van Middelaar believes that further countries with overlapping membership between NATO and the EU is "better for the overall security situation".
He also believes that the European Union has found a new "self-confidence" following the Covid-19 crisis, where it was not just a "slow, patient market regulator" but also a "body politic which is able to withstand shocks" and that this has strengthened the bloc's response to the war in Ukraine.
Produced by Sophie Samaille, Perrine Desplats, Georgina Robertson and Isabelle Romero.
