Gabor Horvath: The centrist majority will move Europe forward

30.04.2024, 14:18 newssky.com.ua

Gabor Horvath

Europe’s Centrists will do everything possible to help Ukraine stand up to the aggressor.

The Ukrainian-Ukrainian war changed life, not only in Ukraine. Gabor Horvath, deputy editor-in-chief of the Hungarian newspaper Népszava, expressed his opinion to the Newssky correspondent about how, in his opinion, two years of Russian aggression against Ukraine affected the social life and economy of Western countries.

Does Europe realize that war is near?

Of course, there is no comparison between the death and destruction that Ukraine had to undergo during two, or rather, 10 years of Russian aggression and the impact of the war on the social life and economic circumstances of Europeans in the West. However, the latter is quite significant, not least because it influences Europe’s will and ability to help Ukraine in its defense efforts.

It seems that they have already forgotten about Covid…

The war jumped into Europe at a vulnerable moment, just after the COVID-19 pandemic had subsided and recovery was about to begin. According to a blog post by French economist Jean PISAI-FERRY, «supply shocks from higher oil and gas prices, the impact of geopolitical threats on household confidence and investor sentiment, the need to help millions of war refugees, and increased spending on security and defense and on new energy the EU system» affected the EU economy. It didn’t take much to realize that «whatever the length of the war, its legacy will be long-lasting and will shape Europe’s political choices for years and decades to come.»

The European economy has slowed down its growth…..

European economic growth is estimated to have slowed by at least one percent, while new investment is needed in infrastructure and fossil fuel supply routes.

Perhaps even more importantly, Russia has destroyed decades of confidence that there is no real and immediate threat to peaceful life in the EU. Countries suddenly started thinking about resuming or extending conscription; all of them increased their defense budgets and arms spending. There is no war in Europe; the streets of Vienna, Warsaw, or London look like they will until February 24, 2022. But the previously unthinkable possibility of war and destruction suddenly settled in the depths of most people’s minds.

The war changed both the EU and NATO, restoring their power and providing a new impetus for greater unity.

Did the war unite Europe?

The idea of a joint European defense force re-emerged in earnest, while a new series of federalist ideas came into focus. The threat from the East also contributed to the strengthening of a common European identity and increased support for European institutions. Although some right-wing politicians, such as Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, hope otherwise, the upcoming European Parliament elections in June will likely see a centrist majority moving Europe forward, doing everything it can to help Ukraine confront the aggressor.

Maryna Kovalchuk, deputy editor-in-chief (Central Europe and Canada) and head of the V5 Media project, contributed

Українською