After the events this weekend to mark the fall of the Berlin Wall 25 years ago, Gianni Pittella, the president of the Socialists and Democrats Group in the European Parliament will speak on the issue this week in the Parliament's Brussels plenary session and urge a united approach to break down the new walls in Europe:
 
"The Berlin Wall has fallen and the Cold War is over. Maybe. Maybe, because now new walls have been erected. It seems that the Berlin Wall has just moved a bit further east, with new barriers between Europe and Russia.
 
"New cold wars have erupted all around. Nato's sights are trained on Russia as a major threat to our security, while Russian tanks and troops are still in place along the Russian-Ukrainian borders.
 
"The winds of war are blowing. We saw it in Ukraine. These same winds used to blow before the Berlin Wall fell 25 years ago.
 
"We feel insecure – as our parents felt insecure under the shadow of the Berlin Wall.
 
"Fortunately not everything is the same as it was 25 years ago. Since then, we have succeeded in increasing awareness among Europeans that we need a single European voice in the international context – and not only to defend ourselves. Europe represents a positive influence beyond our borders, on democratic and human rights as well as on economic issues. In Turkey, Egypt, Ukraine, Palestine, Bosnia and Serbia, Europe is often seen as a model to follow and as a future partner.
 
"Therefore we believe that now Federica Mogherini has taken up her role as the EU's high representative for foreign affairs and security it is time to change the direction the wind is blowing and build up a real European foreign policy.
 
"We have to rethink about our relationship with Moscow now, 25 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Europe did not succeed in 'Europeanising' Russia, as many hoped after Perestroika.
 
"Europe has to reopen dialogue with Russia and speak with a single voice, without isolating Moscow. On the contrary, the EU must try to find new common ground with Moscow to tackle the new threats we all face together. This is the now our wall to break down."