Sabina Higgins Letter to Irish Times calling for ceasefire on Ukraine
Comments
-
-
-
-
-
-
Advertisement
-
-
-
-
-
-
Advertisement
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Advertisement
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
It's not about a "free lunch" more that members of an organisation/club (EU) will tend to back each other up by default unless there is something strongly overriding that. As I said the action taken on the UK breaking its agreements will be an EU matter, so I think several member states would have to actively step in and assert themsleves, go to bat for the UK govt. in the EU to defend it and prevent action being taken (and therefore shaft their fellow member, Ireland and also undermine the EU + the single market that they benefit from too, by showing any outsider can resile from agreements made as they wish and pick apart the members pretty easily to stop action being taken). I can't see it happening.
Yes it is obvious that UK view their defence/security capability and very welcome support they can give Ukraine etc. as a way to get credit with Eastern EU members (and with likes of Sweden and Finland) after they have left the EU.
They need it. They have obligations and promises to uphold anyway as a big power in NATO. Brexit and the disruptive and angry way it was conducted by the UK govt. was a real two fingered salute to all the others who remain members. The whole "oh we love you all dearly, we really, really just don't like the EU bureaucracy, being in the EU-SSR etc etc" jesuitical thing the UK govt. try and do just doesn't really work, and falls apart when they pick fights with the likes of France and Germany in particular.
It is not "tricky" (this letter) at all, more a domestic issue for Ireland (IMO). Other than a failure to provide military aid ourselves or provide money for the EU to purchase such aid, the govt. here has always supported Ukraine pretty strongly in the EU. That's what is important.
A Eurostat survey on public opinion here shows public support for measures like sanctions on Russia, helping the refugees from the war, providing EU funding & supports for Ukraine etc. above the EU averages (see https://europa.eu/eurobarometer/surveys/detail/2772 from April -see the IE country factsheet).
Even for the provision of military aid, it is higher than average which surprised me (48 % "fully approve" - highest level on a 5 point scale vs 38 % EU average).
The country is not divided on the rights & wrongs of the war itself IMO (and clear about who the onus is on here to make peace - i.e. the invader/aggressor Russia) even if there is indeed I think more division over issues of our military neutrality and what it now means for Ireland + its EU membership etc. in this future where the Union may be under threats of force from outside powers like Russia.
Post edited by fly_agaric on0 -
Advertisement
-
![[Deleted User]](/applications/dashboard/design/images/defaulticon.png)
