Brussels, 08/03/2012 (Agence Europe) - On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Soviet Union, and as a reaction to the results of the presidential elections in the Russian Federation, the European People's Party (EPP) at the European Parliament and the Robert Schuman Foundation organised the conference “Life after the Soviet Union”, on Wednesday 7 March. Several speakers from the post-Soviet generation were invited to speak on the impact that the fall of the USSR had on the identity of the European peoples and also to share their personal experiences during the past 20 years of reconstruction.
Questioning the concept of “identity” in Europe, the idea that there is still a divide between the countries of the EU and the former eastern bloc countries was criticised on several occasions. “If there is a lesson to be drawn from the fall of the Soviet Union, then it is that there is no eastern bloc but simply countries each with their own history, their own trajectory”, said Maryia Ivanova Nedelcheva (Bulgaria). Sidonia Jedrzejewska (Poland) was also doubtful about the idea of an “identity” in central Europe, upholding the view that “each country has lived the experience of communism in a different way”.
In his opening speech, Joseph Daul, who heads the EPP in the Parliament, underlined the importance of bearing this historical era in mind and of heightening the awareness of the new generation of Europeans who “must understand Europe's thorny history in order to be well-equipped to prevent a weakening of European fundamental values: democracy, freedom, tolerance and respect of human rights”.
Vladimir Putin's return to the forefront at the Kremlin, however, might suggest that democratic principles in Russia will be in decline. As Vladimir V. Kara-Murza, Russian journalist and historian, explained, Putin has always imposed an authoritarian regime, from the very first years of being in power. He has always locked up his opponents, muzzled the independent press and rigged election results. Kara-Kurza does, however, go on to explain that the Putin era, founded on the ideas of “invincibility” of the leader and consent of the Russian people, “ended when 100,000 people went out into the street to protest” last December against the announcement by the Russian leader to stand again for the presidency. The former president of the European Parliament, Jerzy Buzek (EPP, Poland), pointed out that the aim of the Parliament is above all to defend human dignity “which is put into question each time the policy does not serve the people”. (SD/transl.jl)