Speaker: Guy VERHOFSTADT (Belgium — Open Vlaamse Liberalen en Democraten)
Political group: Renew Europe Group
Date: 2022-04-06
Debate: Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 24-25 March 2022: including the latest developments of the war against Ukraine and the EU sanctions against Russia and their implementation (debate)

  Guy Verhofstadt (Renew).   – Madam President, I try to speak not only in my name, but in the name of the 212 MEPs who have signed the letter. And you know that letter Mr Borrell? Because let’s be honest, I can only join those who felt completely devastated about what is happening in Bucha and Mariupol. But let’s be honest, that cannot be the centre of our debate. The centre of our debate needs to be whether the strategy that we are following is the right strategy? Is it stopping the war? Is it stopping Putin – yes or no? What is our strategy? Our strategy, Mr Borrell, and it’s a pity that Mrs von der Leyen is not there, or Mr Michel is not there anymore because they are responsible for that. It’s the strategy of progressive packages, of sanctions. 
We are now in the fourth and now announced today the fifth package. The first four package didn’t work. The value of the ruble went up at the end. And I predict you something, Mr Borrell, the fifth package will not work either. And therefore, we have sent with 212 people and mapped this letter to you. Because, it will not work and people in the corridors tell me ‘Mr Verhofstadt, you are impatient. Wait a little bit. We are working on the sixth package already and in the sixth package you’re going to have all as you want’. Well, I can tell you, I can wait my whole bloody life for your packages. But the Ukrainians who are dying in Mariupol and Bucha cannot wait anymore. That is the reality of the work here. 
You know why your strategy doesn’t work? Because progressive packages of sanctions with an autocrat do not work. That works with a democracy, with Democrats. We have a public opinion, a real public opinion. In Russia there is no longer a real public opinion. The reality is that it doesn’t work because the fifth package is what? coal! It’s ridiculous! It’s only 3% of the imports from Russia. Switch the ban. Ridiculous. More than 50% of the financial institutions are still outside the ban. And the oligarchs, the oligarchs, – shall we extend a little bit? – the oligarchs. The oligarchs will escape finally the sanctions or lose a little bit of their money. You need to tackle the 6000 people around Putin, the real people working with Putin. And we have the list. Alexei Navalny’s Foundation for combating corruption has made the list of 6000 people. These people you need to tackle. 
And so I have a request for you. I’m sorry that I am saying it to you, because I think that for 90% you agree with me, in fact. I’m pretty sure about that. So I wanted to say that to Michel and von der Leyen – in the name of this 212, it’s time to change your strategy. It’s time to have an extra European Council as fast as possible and to go for the full package of sanctions immediately so that you can really make a difference. All the rest will not work. All the rest will prolong the war. All the rest will be more killings on the Ukraine side. 
And finally, a little advice to my friends in Germany. I think that after the horrors of the Second World War, there has emerged (I’m finishing) a strong and democratic Germany, a very strong and democratic Germany. But from such a Germany, I expect leadership, leading by example and not the dragging of feet, as we are seeing today.