Vesna Pusic: An insight into Russia’s aggression in Ukraine
The Catalan Council of the European Movement recently organized a day in Parliament on the European elections and the new enlargement of the EU. In this event, Vesna Pusic, former Deputy Prime Minister and former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Croatia, participated as a distinguished guest. Pusic is an expert in European politics and was a key figure in Croatia’s accession process to the European Union.
An outstanding political career
During her tenure as Croatia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Pusic led the negotiations for her country’s accession to the EU, which were successfully completed in 2013. In addition, she was her country’s candidate for the secretary general of the United Nations in 2016. Despite not being elected, this experience allowed her to gain international visibility and consolidate her reputation as an expert in international relations.
An authoritative voice on the current situation
With an academic background in Philosophy and Sociology, Pusic is a professor at the University of Zagreb and has taught at several international educational institutions. In addition, she has been vice-president of the European Liberal Democratic and Reformist Party and has published several books on topics such as economic democracy and civil society. Her experience and knowledge make her an authorized voice to analyze the current political situation in Europe.
Russia’s war in Ukraine and the future of the EU
During his speech in Parliament, Pusic expressed his concern about Russia’s aggression in Ukraine and stated that this action represents a war against Europe. According to her, this conflict has a direct and dramatic impact on the European continent. Pusic also emphasized the importance of the upcoming European elections and warned about the rise of far-right and Europhobic forces in different EU countries.
The future of the European project
Pusic stressed the importance of collective security and urged Europeans to rethink this issue in the current context. He also emphasized the need for strong European leadership to face the challenges and threats that are presented. In addition, he referred to the enlargement processes of the EU and pointed out that the Western Balkans cannot be considered an enlargement, but a consolidation of the European territory.
The role of civil society
Pusic highlighted the contradiction between the leaders of the Balkan countries who want integration into the EU and the obstacles that stand in the way of this process. He stressed the importance of civil society in this context and stated that it is necessary to work to overcome this contradiction and take advantage of the opportunity to integrate these countries into the EU.
Pusic’s vision of Catalonia
Pusic was asked about the political evolution of Catalonia from Croatia. While not wanting to give specific advice, he emphasized that from a political point of view, the agreements made by the coalition government of Pedro Sánchez with the pro-independence parties seem to be a smart decision for all parties and can contribute to break with the current situation. He also affirmed that Europe cannot have political prisoners and emphasized the importance of guaranteeing freedom and fundamental rights.
