These were some of the questions debated in the Chamber of Deputies on Tuesday.
There is no doubt NATO is essential to peace in Europe, said Gusty Graas (DP), the current crisis being another example for why we need a strong NATO. But Europe also needs a good relationship with the US. Regarding NATO financing, Luxembourg could certainly make more of an effort, with its current contributions of 0.7 percent of GDP.
Déi Lénk, on the other hand, consider NATO part of the problem. There was no common security architecture for Eastern Europe, said Nathalie Oberweis. European security interests did not necessarily match those of the US, she added.
For Lydia Mutsch from the CSV, NATO is still an important military alliance. But Europe also needs to develop an internal security structure to complement international structures and alliances. Jean-Marie Halsdorf shares her opinion. A European army could contribute to a new freedom and stability in Europe, he said.
The adr doesn’t consider the military manoeuvres on the borders of Ukraine as Russian expansionism. For more stability in Europe and beyond, Russia should be considered a partner. Economic sanctions do not help, but are rather counterproductive, says Fernand Kartheiser.
The Pirate Party argued that the EU must have a single voice and clearly speak out for sanctions against Russia. The sanctions need to hurt, Sven Clement insisted. Countries who want to provide material assistance to Ukraine should do this, and if Luxembourg chooses this path, the Pirates would support it.
One thing all MPs could agree on was that a military intervention should be avoided at all costs. Diplomacy and deescalation were the only viable solutions.
Macron op Visitt a Russland: Weder Degradatioun nach Eskalatioun an Ukrain-Kris
