Why we need a strong EU.

EUseful! (Sorry. The Pun Police have been notified.)Russia is using natural gas as a strategic weapon to enforce its will on the Ukraine, and indeed on Europe. It’s true, the Russians may have a legitimate gripe with the Ukraine over gas prices, but the fact is, the EU failure to have a coherent energy policy is now hurting individual EU member states.

Surely we should have an EU gas reserve, jointly funded and owned by the whole union, to assist in situations like this? Secondly, should we not fund a pipeline that avoids Russia altogether and instead goes to Iraq through the Balkans? I believe the Commission is working on such an idea, but it needs to be highlighted as a priority.

This isn’t an airy-fairy issue. Elderly Europeans will die if we cannot guarantee gas supplies for home heating. This is about continental security, and about whether we are masters of our own destiny or should just get fitted for a Moscow saddle.

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