The European Conservatives and Reformists Party – ECR Party or simply ECR – gathered in Stockholm from 10th to 13th of June for three “Study days”.
In the first working session, the topic was migration and, above all, the change in migration policy that is now taking place in several countries in Europe. Ludvig Aspling, a member of the Swedish parliament for the Sweden Democrats, spoke about the new migration policy that the Swedish right-wing government is putting in place. The previously generous refugee policy is now being changed because more people believe that Sweden cannot accept further refugee migration. Carlo Fidanza, an EU parliamentarian from Italy and the Brothers of Italy party, spoke about the efforts being made under the leadership of Giorgia Meloni in Italy to reduce the number of illegal migrants coming to the country.
In a second working session, the topic of security and defense was discussed, with a particular focus on NATO’s new defense line towards Russia. Both Sweden and Finland have joined the Western defense alliance after being neutral throughout the post-war period. Sebastian Tynkynnen, MEP for the True Finns Party, spoke about Finland’s special situation with a long land border with Russia. Mr. Tynkynnen argued that Finland is safer in NATO than outside and that it was good for the stability of Northern Europe that Finland and Sweden joined NATO at the same time.
In a third panel discussion, the question of the power relationship between the EU’s central organization and the various member states was discussed. Mr. Dick Erixon, Swedish MEP for the Sweden Democrats, argued that the individual nations that are in favor of a restrained refugee reception should simply allow themselves to violate the migration pact. This has been done with regard to the stabilization pact for the member states’ budgets. And especially if it happens that several countries begin to think that the migration pact entails too large commitments. Then it may be time for various member states to simply abandon agreements.
A final topic discussed in a panel discussion concerned energy and climate policy. Here, Professor Samuel Furfari emphasized that an overly ambitious green transition risks deindustrializing Europe. Europe’s industries and companies need cheap electricity to be able to compete with companies from the rest of the world. Then we cannot rely on unreliable wind power and solar power.
Migration, security, national sovereignty combined with cooperation and finally climate and energy. These were broad but topical topics that were discussed at the ECR Study Days in Stockholm. Many of the participants seemed to sense that the political winds are now turning in Europe. The consequences of the idealistic left-wing politics are becoming increasingly noticeable. Europe needs a politic rooted in reality, not in utopias and unrealistic hopes.