Bart De Wever: “Dependence on Russian energy is a consequence of green choices in the past”

“We have made ourselves dependent on Russian energy,” Bart De Wever states sharply. Europe is virtually nowhere when it comes to strategic autonomy regarding crucial raw materials. And now we have been caught unprepared. It is time for a real turnaround.”

The federal government is sticking to 18 March to take a decision on a possible nuclear power phase-out. Bart De Wever says it is “hallucinatory” that we still have to wait until then. “That decision should have been taken the day before yesterday. What is more, we must even consider whether it would not be advisable to keep the not-so-new nuclear power stations open as well. Even the IEA (International Energy Agency) has asked us that question.”

Idiotic decisions

“We are now – literally – paying the price for the idiotic decisions of the first Vilvaldi government, which voted for the nuclear power phase-out. We wanted to undo that in 2017, but the liberals in particular, with a raging Gwendolyn Rutten, stood their ground.”

Arguing for strategic autonomy

“I have been arguing for years for strategic autonomy in Europe when it comes to critical and crucial raw materials. We are simply nowhere there as the EU. Since 2010, our own energy production has decreased by 20%. For gas, the figure is even 30%. Dependence on Russian energy is a consequence of green choices in the past. And now we have been caught unprepared. The US has been completely self-sufficient in energy for some time now. They have understood it for a long time there. We must now also make that turnaround in Europe,” says Bart De Wever, who considers it obvious that the nuclear power stations should also be kept open.

Europe must wake up

“Europe must wake up. It must grow up geopolitically. That also means additional investment in defence and creating a culture of resilience. We must move away from that postmodern thinking where borders are not important and we do not dare to defend our identity and democratic values.”