Mon. Sep 16th, 2024

Most newly elected MEPs reaffirm their strong support for Ukraine

Jul 18, 2024 , , , , ,
ukraine, peace, hand
The EU Parliament promises strong support to Ukraine. Photo by David_Peterson on Pixabay

Strasbourg, 17 July 2024

  • The EU must work actively to maintain international support for Ukraine
  • Provide military support to Ukraine for as long as, and in whatever form, is necessary, MEPs say
  • Parliament condemns Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s recent visit to Moscow
  • EU sanctions against Russia and Belarus should be maintained and extended

With Russia’s war against Ukraine raging on, Parliament reconfirmed on Wednesday its view that the EU must continue to support Kyiv for as long as it takes until victory.

The resolution, which sets out the newly-elected European Parliament’s first official position on Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, restates the continued support of MEPs for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders.

It calls on the EU to maintain and extend its sanctions policy against Russia and Belarus, monitor and review its effectiveness and impact, and systematically tackle the issue of sanctions circumvention by EU-based companies, third parties, and third countries.

Confiscate Russian state-owned assets frozen by the EU

While restating their firm conviction that Russia must compensate financially for the destruction it has caused in Ukraine, MEPs welcome recent EU efforts to direct revenues coming from frozen Russian assets to support the Ukrainian war effort. They also want a “sound legal regime for the confiscation of Russian state-owned assets frozen by the EU”.

Parliament further welcomes the outcome of the recent NATO summit and reaffirms its stance that Ukraine is on an irreversible path to NATO membership. MEPs call on the EU and member states to increase their military support for Ukraine for as long as necessary and in whatever form necessary. They also call on the European Commission to propose long-term financial assistance for the reconstruction of Ukraine, building on the experience of the newly established Ukraine Facility.

Viktor Orbán in “blatant violation of the EU’s treaties and common foreign policy”

Parliament condemns Russia’s barbaric missile attack on the Okhmadyt children’s hospital in Kyiv, and the recent visit of the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to the Russian Federation, which does not represent the EU and is a blatant violation of the EU’s treaties and common foreign policy. The text states that Hungary should face repercussions for these actions. Given the Hungarian Prime Minister’s so-called “peace mission” was immediately followed by the children’s hospital attack, the resolution also says this shows the “irrelevance” of Orbán’s alleged peace efforts.

Roll-call votes

Adopted by 495 votes in favour, 137 against with 47 abstentions, the full text of the resolution (17.07.2024) will be available soon. You can also check the results of the roll-call votes (17.07.2024).

More information

 

EPP Group: New Parliament, unchanged support for Ukraine

Strasbourg, 17 July 2024

On the initiative of the EPP Group, the newly elected MEPs today reaffirm the European Parliament’s continued support for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders.

In a Resolution to be voted on later today, MEPs will also reconfirm the EU’s unwavering commitment to provide political, financial, economic, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support for as long as it takes until Ukraine’s victory.

The document also condemns Viktor Orbán’s recent visit to Moscow, as a blatant violation of the EU Treaties and the EU foreign policy, including the principle of ‘sincere cooperation’.

“The fate of Europe is being decided on Ukrainian soil and our freedom is being paid for with Ukrainian blood. Russia’s war against Ukraine is part of a broader assault on the democratic world and our values. We need to increase our military support to Ukraine for as long as necessary and in whatever is required,” insists Andrzej Halicki MEP, EPP Group Vice-Chairman in charge of foreign policy.

The Parliamentary Resolution to be adopted today supports Ukraine’s accession to the EU and NATO and calls on the European Commission to propose long-term financial assistance for the reconstruction of Ukraine.

“We believe that the EU’s enlargement and Ukraine’s integration into the EU and NATO present a geostrategic and democratic opportunity and are investments in a strong and united Europe. It’s time to end the existence of grey zones in Europe and Putin’s veto over other countries’ future. A full commitment to the accession process is needed now in order to conclude negotiations and achieve accession by the end of this decade,” adds Andrius Kubilius MEP.

The EPP Group is the largest political group in the European Parliament with 188 Members from all EU Member States.

Source – EPP Group

 

Iratxe García calls for unity among democratic and pro-European forces to ensure freedom, security and peace for the Ukrainian people

Strasbourg, 17 July 2024

Russia’s war against Ukraine and the need for continuous EU support for Ukraine was the topic of the first debate of the European Parliament in its new term. During the debate, S&D leader Iratxe García reaffirmed the EU’s full support for Ukraine, denounced Russia’s violation of international law and the UN Charter, and condemned the collusion of right-wing extremists with Orbán.

S&D Group leader, Iratxe Garcia, said:

“We are witnessing the complicity of the far right in this Parliament with Putin. A few days ago, the most visible head of the new group of false Patriots, Orbán, met with Putin to defame the European Union, to proclaim that he has a peace plan that nobody knows about and to promote Russian expansionism. Are the Russian bombings of innocent human beings the values upheld by false Patriots and tyrants who violate international law and ally themselves with Putin?

“We will support Ukraine until Putin stops his crimes with the confiscation of the 200 billion euros of Russian public assets tied up for its armament and reconstruction. And we will support Ukraine until its aspirations to decide its own destiny as a member of the European Union are realised.

“The Ukrainian people have chosen democracy, freedom and independence over those who want to destroy them. And for all of this, the Ukrainian people have chosen that their future lies in the European Union.

“We represent a generation of Europeans who have always seen the European project as a beacon of freedom, economic progress and social justice. Against the group of false Patriots, let us unite the democratic and pro-European forces and work tirelessly for the Ukrainian people to live free from fear and threats, to live in security and peace.”

Source – S&D Group

 

ECR Co-Chairman Joachim Brudziński: “Only a Ukrainian victory will lead to Putin’s defeat”

In a debate on more and better support for Ukraine during the first session of the newly elected European Parliament, ECR Co-Chairman Joachim Brudziński reiterated his conservative group’s full and unwavering support for the country under attack from Russia.

He pointed to Poland, which has made great efforts across society to take in Ukrainian refugees and provide military support to Ukraine. If Putin is not defeated militarily, Russian weapons will soon be on the EU’s borders, threatening its heartland, Brudziński pointed out:

“We face a choice: do we just want an end to this war or do we want Ukraine to win? A Ukrainian defeat will lead to a battle-hardened and war-hungry Russian army reaching our borders. If this happens, Russia will immediately escalate the threat by deploying nuclear weapons and troops right on our borders. As a result, Russia will mobilise its forces, consolidate control, and prepare for another invasion.”

“We have the means to stop this aggressor,” he said. The EU should invest more in the defence industrial base of Member States in order to provide Ukraine with regular resources in the form of financial, military, and humanitarian aid until Russia is defeated and Ukraine’s territorial integrity is restored.

“Russia must be held accountable for its crimes. There can be no peace without justice. We must ensure that Putin and his inner circle of war criminals are brought to justice. Equally urgently, we must use every means at our disposal to seize Russian assets across Europe so that Ukraine’s devastated infrastructure and economy can be rebuilt at Russia’s expense”, he added.

He also analysed Russia’s war strategy from an Eastern European perspective:

“Russia starts a war in the former Soviet Union every six years and continues to use its military, intelligence services and mercenary groups to crush democratic movements and weaken developing countries around the world”, Brudziński said.

The ECR will strongly support the Parliament’s resolution to be voted on today proposing Ukraine’s accession to the EU and NATO and calling on the European Commission to propose long-term financial support for the reconstruction of Ukraine.

Source: ECR Group

 

Renew Europe: EU Parliament’s inaugural resolution pledges continuous support for Ukraine, condemns Viktor Orbán

Strasbourg,

The European Parliament will adopt a clear call today for enhanced solidarity and support for Ukraine, especially from international partners, at an important moment before US Presidential elections. Supported and shaped by the Renew Europe Group, the resolution notes that military assistance provided by the EU, US remains insufficient.

The resolution condemns Russia’s sickening attack on the Okhmatdyt children´s hospital, supports Ukraine and Moldova’s accession and condemns the rogue actions of Viktor Orbán, the Prime Minister of Hungary, the country holding the rotating Presidency of the Council. It demands that Hungary faces consequences for its violations.

Commenting ahead of the adoption of the resolution, Valérie Hayer, President of Renew Europe, said:

“It is meaningful that the inaugural act of the new European Parliament is to stand united with the brave people of Ukraine. Ukraine’s security is Europe’s security. We expect nominee for the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen to heed our call for immediate action to enhance Europe’s strategic autonomy; a defence Commissioner and urgent proposals to deliver a true Defence Union. We must prepare for the possibility that international support for Ukraine may waiver and act accordingly. It is time for Europe to take its security into its own hands, with means and not just words.”

Commenting on the uncoordinated visits to Russia and Beijing by Viktor Orbán, the Prime Minister of Hungary, Valérie Hayer, President of Renew Europe, said:

“Today we reiterate that the position of the European Parliament and other EU institutions is not the position of Prime Minister Orbán. We note and condemn the barbaric attack on the Okhmatdyt children´s hospital in Kyiv, just hours after Victor Orbán’s visit to Moscow. Prime Minister Orbán’s actions are a blatant violation and there must be consequences. It is time to reign in Victor Orbán’s rogue Presidency of the Council. We will continue to urge the nominee for the President of the Commission to defend the Rule of Law in Europe, including through the application of Article 7.”

Source – Renew Europ Group

 

Forward to your friends