Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, currently presiding over the Council of the European Union, delivered a powerful speech in the European Parliament on January 22, criticizing the EU’s Green Deal and its impact on Europe’s economy.
Speaking in Strasbourg, Tusk made it clear: soaring energy costs are jeopardizing the EU’s global competitiveness.
“Our European energy is the most expensive,” he said. “If it can’t be the cheapest, at least it should match other countries. We all want to compete with the US and China, but our energy prices are three times higher.”
Tusk called for sweeping deregulation to boost the EU’s economic strength, warning that without action, Europe risks becoming a continent of “naive ideas” rather than a competitive powerhouse. He urged lawmakers to rethink and revise legislation, including the Green Deal, which he argued is driving energy prices to unsustainable levels.
“We must critically review all legislation,” Tusk stated. “If Europe goes bankrupt, who will protect the environment? High energy prices can topple democratic governments.”
He also highlighted the geopolitical risks of ignoring the economic strain. According to Tusk, failing to address the energy crisis could have dire political consequences across the continent.
Turning his focus to security, Tusk expressed optimism about former US President Donald Trump’s calls for Europe to take on greater responsibility for NATO funding. “Only an ally would ask another ally to grow stronger. We need to stop asking what America can do for our security and ask what we can do for ourselves,” he remarked.
Tusk called for the creation of a European defense initiative, including a continental rocket shield, emphasizing that Europe must arm itself to survive in a turbulent global landscape. “No one in Poland wants another war. We’ve suffered the most in Europe, and we understand that to avoid repeating history, we need to be prepared,” he said.
However, Tusk rejected the notion of a unified European army, fearing it could deepen divisions among member states. “I think Budapest would send such an army in the opposite direction of Warsaw,” he quipped.
Tusk’s speech underscored his determination to balance environmental ambitions with economic realities, urging the EU to prioritize competitiveness and security while reevaluating policies that risk undermining its stability.
