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The EU elections may affect Europe's support for Ukraine

2024-06-07 16:45:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

While the war in the eastern part of Ukraine continues, voters from 27 member states of the European Union will elect new representatives of the European Parliament. As Voice of America correspondent Myroslava Gongadze reports, analysts estimate that these parliamentary elections will affect the internal democracy of the European Union and will determine the global role of this block, especially in Ukraine.

After 15 years as an official in Brussels, Joanna Kaminska is running in the elections for the European Parliament. A security and defense specialist, she is the only politician in the race under the Green Party platform.

"I thought that my expertise is now useful for the European Parliament. I know how to negotiate good deals and I know how institutions work."

She campaigned on the streets of Warsaw and other cities with a group of volunteers to convince voters that these elections are of vital importance for the future of Europeans.

"We need to work and have cooperation around pro-European integration between parties that are liberal - that want the EU to be stronger, more integrated and protect European values."

Experienced politician Viola von Cramon, a former member of the German parliament, is campaigning for her second term in the European parliament.

"It is about the protection of democracy. This time the emphasis is on security in Europe. This time, it is about foreign policy. For the war, for supporting Ukraine."

The war in Ukraine has often come up as a topic during conversations she has had with German voters.

"We need to explain to our fellow citizens here why Ukraine's security is connected to our security and what the risks are."

Support for right-wing parties in Europe is growing.

The European Council on Foreign Relations and others predict that far-right populist parties will secure votes and gain ground across the EU, while green parties on the centre-left spectrum will lose them. .

Member of the European Parliament Nicola Procaccini from Italy's ruling conservative party 'Brothers of Italy' hopes to gain a stronger presence.

"One thing is certain: in the next mandate we will have a more central role in the European scenario than in recent years."

These elections will be critical for the future of the EU, says Madga Jakubowska, vice president of the Res Publica Foundation.

"It is a growing trend of populist governments and politicians in power. And if we don't work around this issue, if we don't stop such a trend, sooner or later the EU and the European project will be divided and greatly weakened."

In a report, the group accuses malicious actors such as Russia of influencing the election by exploiting divisive issues such as immigration and budget spending through disinformation campaigns. The group says these campaigns have particularly targeted countries in the eastern part of the EU, such as the Baltic states and Poland.

"...Because those countries are on the borders of Europe and could be decisive for the future of the war in Ukraine."

Analysts say that after the election, security, economic stability and the protection of democracy in Europe will be the key issues for the future of the EU, and say that on these the new EU leaders must be able to work with the US administration. ./ VOA