Our cover interview is with MEP Sergey Lagodinsky, who wrote for us last month about the need to "de-Putinise" European leadership. Born in Soviet Russia, Lagodinksy recalls in his interview with The Parliament Magazine some formative memories of his childhood during the perestroika period. He also discusses rule of law and his role as chair of the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee. It's a timely interview that you won't want to miss.
Meanwhile, Russia’s war in Ukraine continues unabated. The war has prompted states across this continent to reevaluate everything from defence strategies to core values, and it is this spirit of introspection that guides the conversation in the pages of this month's magazine.
Our feature this month takes a closer look at the neutrality debate unfolding in several European countries. In Finland, MEP Nils Torvalds considers the history of his country’s abstention from Nato. Next, Austrian political scientist Heinz Gärtner guides us through the complexities of Austria’s approach to neutrality and offers up a potential model for Ukraine. And in Ireland, which has maintained a military neutral status since its independence, MEPs Barry Andrews and Seán Kelly take up different positions on how – and with what degree of urgency – their country might readjust in light of current events.
Also returning to our pages this month is media analyst Mariia Kriuchok, who offers a personal account of her daily life in Kyiv under Russian assault. Her words are poignant and, at times, humorous.
Finally, we have a fascinating interview with three MEPs who, a little more than a year ago, found themselves targeted by Chinese sanctions.
All this and more. Read on.