Damian Boeselager EUdebates Russian aggression in Ukraine

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Damian Boeselager (Verts/ALE). – Mr President, every morning when we wake to the live documentary of this terrifying war on social media, I feel helpless when I see the images of bombed streets, burning nuclear plants and lines of people fleeing. I feel helpless. But while our options within Ukraine are limited, our options for helping those who are fleeing the war are not. That’s why I wanted to thank you very much, Commissioner, for your swift action and for bringing all the countries together to grant legal protection so fast. And that’s why I want to thank everyone who’s opening their doors currently in Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and Romania, but also all across the continent.

But much more needs to be done and we have to adapt to the situation and every moment. So, I would ask you, Commissioner, to also ensure that everyone who’s fleeing is protected, no matter their skin colour or nationality – also the Russians and Belarussians fleeing their crazy tyrants.

Even if we decide that some can’t stay, please make sure that they’re all covered by health protection so that they can go to the hospitals to tend to their mental and physical wounds after fleeing. And please ensure that we have a new approach to the European asylum system, so that we can learn from this humane reaction to the fleeing refugees, in our new asylum system.

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.
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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.

Commissioner Ylva Johansson stressed the extraordinary pressure on member states sharing borders with Ukraine: Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and Romania, as well as Republic of Moldova. The EU rose to the challenge when the Council unanimously activated the temporary protection mechanism, providing solidarity across the EU, by supporting the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) and the Red Cross working on the ground, and via the activation of €500 million in humanitarian aid.

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. #