Double Standards Exposed: ECIPS President Calls for Accountability in European Governance.
By Raymond Enoch.
In a stern statement that has ignited a fiery debate across Europe, Ricardo Baretzky, President of the European Centre for Information Policy and Security (ECIPS), has raised critical concerns about the European Union’s double standards in handling financial accountability. With the force of law under Royal Decree WL22/16.594 and operating under the authority granted by the Treaty EST124 of the Council of Europe, ECIPS is renowned for advocating transparency, justice, and ethical governance. Baretzky’s remarks, especially regarding the prosecution of French politician Marine Le Pen, are a call for equal scrutiny in the EU’s financial dealings, both internal and extenal
The allegations against Marine Le Pen, leader of the National Rally (Rassemblement National), have caused ripples in the European political landscape. Le Pen is accused of misappropriating EU funds during her tenure as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP), allegedly using the money meant for parliamentary activities to pay for political aides—a violation of EU rules. Critics argue that the case against her is politically motivated, while Le Pen and her legal team deny any wrongdoing, claiming she acted within the legal boundaries governing her position.
Baretzky, however, sees a troubling inconsistency in how the EU enforces financial accountability. While the investigation into Le Pen continues to unfold, the EU’s massive financial commitment to Ukraine remains largely unexamined, despite its far-reaching implications for European taxpayers
Baretzky draws a stark contrast between the prosecution of Le Pen and the EU’s financial support for Ukraine, which has exceeded €120 billion since the conflict began. While the EU presents its support for Ukraine as a moral duty to assist a nation under attack, Baretzky questions the transparency and oversight of these funds. Unlike the stringent monitoring of EU funds allocated for internal purposes, the money sent to Ukraine—intended for military aid, weapons, and humanitarian assistance—has been disbursed through various EU channels with limited public transparency.
“There is no clear, public record of where the €120 billion allocated to Ukraine is going,” Baretzky said. “We don’t know if it’s being used effectively, or if it’s being mismanaged. This lack of accountability is concerning.”
For Baretzky, this discrepancy highlights a serious imbalance in how the EU applies justice and transparency. The EU is quick to hold individuals like Le Pen accountable for alleged financial mismanagement, yet it overlooks similar standards when it comes to its own high-stakes financial commitments—particularly to a non-EU nation like Ukraine.
The financial support for Ukraine will have long-lasting effects on European taxpayers, who are already struggling with inflation, rising living costs, and the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Baretzky warns that the war, which may extend far beyond its current duration, will leave Europe burdened with reconstruction and continued military support costs for many years to come. This is an extra strain on citizens who did not choose to fund such a far-reaching conflict.
“The European people are being asked to carry the financial burden of a war in a non-EU state,” Baretzky remarked. “Yet they have little say in how the funds are allocated or how long they will be required to pay for this intervention.”
The need for transparent oversight is particularly pressing, Baretzky argues, as the EU continues to ask its citizens to finance a war with no direct security benefits for the people of Europe.
At the heart of Baretzky’s statement is a powerful demand for consistency and fairness in the enforcement of financial accountability. If the EU is to hold individuals accountable for alleged misuse of funds, it must apply the same level of scrutiny to its own financial dealings, especially when it involves billions of euros in aid to non-member countries like Ukraine. Baretzky contends that selective enforcement undermines the EU’s credibility and erodes trust among its citizens.
“The EU cannot afford to selectively enforce the law,” Baretzky asserted. “If we are to hold politicians like Marine Le Pen accountable, then the same level of oversight should be applied to large-scale financial decisions, such as those made regarding Ukraine.”
The European Centre for Information Policy and Security (ECIPS) is uniquely positioned to advocate for these changes. With its mandate to ensure security and transparency in EU operations, ECIPS has called for an overhaul of financial oversight mechanisms within the EU, particularly concerning international aid.
President Baretzky’s statement serves as a timely reminder that justice in European governance must be applied equally. As the EU continues to allocate vast sums of money to foreign conflicts, it must do so with the same transparency, accountability, and fairness that it demands of individuals. Only then can the European Union truly live up to its ideals of justice and public trust.
