Idoia Villanueva Ruiz EUdebates Russian aggression in Ukraine

Idoia Villanueva Ruiz (The Left). – Señor presidente, hoy volvemos a expresar nuestra más profunda solidaridad con el pueblo ucraniano y la condena a la invasión de Putin en Ucrania.

Y para ayudar al pueblo ucraniano, al pueblo ruso, también, que no está de acuerdo con esta invasión, y a la ciudadanía europea, que también sufre sus consecuencias, tenemos que poner todos nuestros esfuerzos en la construcción de la paz lo antes posible. Y eso no se hace con la escalada ni enviando armas; se hace impulsando mediación internacional que sea capaz de cuidar y construir el difícil camino que es la negociación y la paz duradera.

Hoy necesitamos poner en marcha un programa de acogida ambicioso, establecer corredores humanitarios seguros y continuar enviando asistencia humanitaria y profundizando en las medidas de refugio para que todas las personas que huyen de Ucrania, así como las represaliadas rusas, puedan ser protegidas.

Hoy vemos que, cuando hay voluntad, Europa protege. La puesta en marcha de la Directiva de protección temporal en Ucrania debe ser la norma en los conflictos, pero necesitamos más: reformar el Sistema Europeo Común de Asilo y crear un sistema y una agencia común de refugio basada en derechos humanos.

No queremos más violaciones de derechos en Ucrania, como tampoco queremos más violaciones de Frontex ni más Morias ni más centros sin recursos en la frontera sur, como en Canarias. Todas las vidas importan.

On Tuesday afternoon, plenary debated with Council and Commission representatives the deteriorating situation for refugees as a consequence of the Russian invasion. According to the UNHCR, more than one million persons have left the country since 24 February, most of them heading to neighbouring countries. The European Commission proposed on Wednesday to activate the Temporary Protection Directive, to ensure that Ukrainians get protection in the EU, including temporary residence rights and access to education and the labour market.
#WAR #Sanctions #Russia #Ukraine #PutinsWar #refugees
In a separate debate on Wednesday morning, in which Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas will participate, MEPs will look into the EU’s role in a changing world and Europe’s security situation in the wake of the Russian aggression and invasion of Ukraine. President Metsola and Prime Minister Kallas will give a press conference after the debate.

These exchanges follow the extraordinary plenary session held on Tuesday 1 March, with the remote participation of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the Speaker of the Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada (parliament) Ruslan Stefanchuk. Parliament adopted a resolution calling for tougher sanctions against Russia and new efforts to grant Ukraine EU candidate status.

Russian aggression in Ukraine: MEPs praise exceptional solidarity with refugees. As more than two million refugees flee war in Ukraine, mostly towards the EU, member states will have to continue showing solidarity, MEPs said on Tuesday.

In a plenary debate with Brigitte Klinkert, French Minister Delegate for Economic Inclusion, on behalf of the Council, and Commissioner Ylva Johansson, MEPs highlighted the dramatic humanitarian and refugee situation caused by the Russian attack on Ukraine. They praised frontline states for their extraordinary engagement so far, but warned that sustained solidarity across the EU will be necessary in the long-term. Speakers unanimously condemned Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.

MEPs also welcomed the EU’s swift response, ensuring protection to those fleeing from Ukraine, and called for sufficient financial aid to maintain support in the medium- and long-term. Some speakers wished to see concrete progress on the reform of the EU’s migration and asylum rules, with others stressing that all refugees, regardless of their ethnicity, need the same protection.

Europe stands united, with you. European Parliament President Roberta Metsola addressed the Plenary on the Occasion of the International Women's Day. Welcoming Ukrainian writer Oksana Zabuzhko, President Metsola said that the European Parliament will serve as a platform for the strength of Ukrainian brave women to be shown to the world.
Opening the Plenary Session in Strasbourg, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola called on the Russian authorities to free those unjustly jailed. Freedom of expression is a right which we will protect and defend. President Metsola also called on Kremlin to stop intimidating protestors and release immediately all those detained. #