European Union
Italy’s Prime Minister Draghi for taking on new EU debt
Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi at the European Parliament in Strasbourg. Photo: Jean-Francois Badias/AP/dpa
© dpa-infocom GmbH
Energy transition, digitization or the costs resulting from the Russian war of aggression – how can Europe deal with this together. Mario Draghi made proposals on this before the European Parliament.
In view of the war in Ukraine, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi has called for new debts to be taken on at EU level.
“The crises triggered by the Ukraine war come at a time when Europe already has huge spending needs ahead of it,” Draghi said in front of the European Parliament in Strasbourg. In addition to the costs resulting from the Russian war of aggression, there would be investments in the energy transition and digitization. “No state budget can handle these efforts alone,” said the Italian.
Draghi suggested expanding the “Sure” short-time work aid used during the corona pandemic in order to cushion the high energy prices for the population. For example, EU countries could get new loans in the short term to reduce electricity bills and support affected households.
For long-term investments in defence, energy and food security, Draghi called for debt-financed EU aid, based on the model of the Corona Recovery Fund. “The system of tiered payments linked to the achievement of certain targets provides an effective mechanism for controlling the quality of spending.”
Expansion of the European Union
At the same time, Draghi called for countries like Ukraine to join the EU more quickly. “The full integration of countries with European ambitions does not pose a threat to the European project, but is part of its realization.”
The non-party head of government demanded that accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia be opened immediately and renewed impetus in talks with Serbia and Montenegro. Serious attention must be paid to the applications for membership from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo, Draghi said. «We are for the accession of all these countries. And we want Ukraine in the European Union.”