Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash
With Russia’s war against Ukraine raging on, MEPs have reconfirmed their view that the EU must continue to support Kyiv “for as long as it takes until victory.”
A new resolution sets out the newly-elected European Parliament’s first official position on Russia’s “war of aggression” against Ukraine.
It restates the continued support of MEPs for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity within “its internationally recognised borders.”
The document also 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.
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 says it further welcomes the outcome of the recent NATO summit and reaffirms its stance that Ukraine is “on an irreversible path to NATO membership.”
MEPs go on to 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 want the European Commission to propose long-term financial assistance for the reconstruction of Ukraine, building on the experience of the newly established Ukraine facility.
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.
It says “this 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.
It says, “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.”
The document was adopted by 495 votes in favour but with 137 against.
