Mariani: The EU proclaims grand principles, but applies them as it pleases

The European Union proclaims grand principles, but applies them as it pleases, and one of the examples is Kosovo, emphasized French MEP from the “Patriots for Europe” group, Thierry Mariani.

“There are countries for which, according to the EU’s definition, everything is accepted, and others for which everything is rejected. The EU proclaims great principles but applies them depending on the client — as it sees fit. Examples of this are constantly present,” Mariani stated in an interview for Novosti.

He pointed out that in Serbia, for example, there were large protests after which it was said that the government should resign — in Georgia as well — but in Ukraine, he noted, it's the opposite: the EU claims that the presence of large demonstrations proves that democracy is at work.

“This is essentially a case of variable geometry that Brussels adjusts depending on the country in question,” Mariani criticized.

Kosovo, he says, is an excellent example.

“They say that in Kosovo, the will of its population must be respected and that, based on that, it has the right to be an independent state — whereas in Ukraine, a completely different policy is applied when it comes to territorial integrity. Such an EU stands for no values — it is driven by calculation and interests,” Mariani noted, adding that this is regrettable.

He pointed out that the resolutions adopted in the European Parliament against Serbia prove this, as they primarily condemn events in Serbia and call for a change in policy, while in Ukraine, not even the smallest policy change has been requested.

He also noted that there is practically no opposition in Ukraine.

Regarding French President Emmanuel Macron, Mariani said that the French head of state maintains “variable friendships.”

“Lately, the President of France has realized that he made a huge mistake at the beginning — by putting Kosovo in the front row and Serbia in the second. He then tried — and succeeded, which is excellent — to set things right. His position on this issue, as on many others, was not the same a few years ago,” Mariani explained.

He also emphasized that today France has exceptionally good relations with Serbia, which, he concluded, is fantastic.