This is Helmut Brandstätter (often spelled Brandstätter), an Austrian Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from the liberal NEOS party, sitting with the Renew Europe group in the European Parliament. He is a former journalist (longtime role at Austrian broadcaster ORF) who entered politics later, was elected to the Austrian National Council in 2019, joined NEOS formally in 2023, and became an MEP following the 2024 European elections.

He has been vocal on Western Balkans issues, serving as (shadow) rapporteur or active voice on Serbia in the EP’s foreign affairs committee (AFET), frequently criticizing the Serbian government’s rule of law deficits, media freedom problems, authoritarian tendencies under President Vučić, and lack of genuine EU accession commitment.

The quoted statements and the attached video clip (showing him speaking at an EP session, with signs like “RESERVE EUROPÉENNE” visible) come from a recent European Parliament plenary or committee debate, posted widely on X (formerly Twitter) on March 18, 2026.

The remarks align with Brandstätter’s ongoing stance: he has repeatedly argued that the EU should condition or suspend funding to Serbia (e.g., via the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance or Growth Plan) unless real democratic reforms occur, accusing the government of seeking EU money without pursuing membership criteria.

Similar views appear in his interviews and EP contributions from 2025–2026, including calls to withhold funds over issues like judicial changes, media pressure, and election irregularities. This specific blunt phrasing (“The EU is stupid enough… We should stop giving any money…”) seems to be from a fresh intervention amid ongoing tensions over Serbia’s path and EU support.