Findings and recommendations of the Special Committee on the European Democracy Shield

Tabled by Beata Szydło, Mariusz Kamiński

Added: 4a. Stresses that Russia constitutes the principal and most persistent state threat to the security, sovereignty and democratic resilience of Europe; underlines that Russia’s aggression, coercion and interference cannot be understood as isolated consequences of the current regime, but form part of a long-standing pattern of Russian imperial policy, manifested under Tsarist, Soviet and Putinist rule through military aggression, violations of sovereignty, political subversion and attempts to dominate neighbouring states; considers that European policy towards Russia must therefore be based on strategic realism rather than on recurring illusions of normalisation or a ‘reset’; calls for an honest assessment of the political, economic and institutional decisions that have led to Europe’s excessive dependence on Russia, including past attempts to pursue privileged political and economic relations with Moscow despite repeated warnings from Member States most exposed to Russian aggression; stresses that such policies have undermined European solidarity, contributed to strategic dependencies and provided the Kremlin with additional resources and leverage; insists that there must be no return to ‘business as usual’ with Russia and that any future relationship must be conditional on a fundamental and verified change in Russian conduct, full respect for international law and the sovereignty of neighbouring states;

Wording as published by the EP, in English. PE788.231