Photo by Karsten Würth on Unsplash
MEPs say the EU is now Ukraine’s primary strategic ally and must help the country uphold its right to self-defence.
They have also welcomed the proposal for a 30 day ceasefire, reached on 11 March.
They say they expect Russia to agree to it and follow it by ceasing all attacks on Ukrainian civilian population, infrastructure and territory.
Following an apparent shift in the US position on Russia’s war of aggression, which has included openly blaming Ukraine for the ongoing war, the EU and its member states are now Ukraine’s primary strategic allies and must maintain their role as its largest donor, according to MEPs.
Meanwhile, MEPs from the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) Group have renewed their call for a rapid phase-out of Russian gas imports.
They have also criticised what they call the European Union’s continued reliance on Russian energy as a serious security risk.
Speaking this week in a debate in the European Parliament, Adam Bielan, ECR Coordinator in the Foreign Affairs Committee, stressed the dangers of ongoing energy dependence.
Addressing MEPs in Strasbourg, he said, “For too long, the EU’s dependence on Russian gas and other fossil fuels has been a tool of political blackmail, financing a regime that wages war on its neighbours and destabilises our continent.”
The ECR Group says it had long warned against over-reliance on Russian energy supplies and opposed cooperation projects such as the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline well before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Addressing the shortcomings of current sanctions, Bielan criticised existing gaps in enforcement.
The MEP added, “The European Parliament has repeatedly called for stronger measures – full sanctions on Russian LNG, a ban on transhipment through EU ports and a legal framework to prevent companies from circumventing restrictions through intermediaries. These loopholes need to be closed.”
He also criticised the delays in the EU’s plans to end Russian gas imports by 2027 and called for a forward-looking strategy that includes both diversification and innovation in the energy sector:
“We must ensure that new investments do not replace one dependency with another. Diversification means securing reliable partners, such as Norway or the US, while accelerating the development of nuclear energy and hydrogen.”
Stressing the need for a balanced and fair transition, Bielan underlined the importance of supporting those Member States most affected.
“At the same time, we need to support the Member States most affected by this transition. Energy security cannot be achieved at the cost of economic hardship for our citizens. We need targeted financial mechanisms to help industry and households adapt.”
Bielan also called for a pragmatic approach that safeguards Europe’s industrial base:
“Let us not sacrifice our industries on the altar of green ideology.”
The ECR Group says it continues to advocate for a realistic, security-oriented EU energy policy that protects citizens and industry while ending dependence on hostile regimes.
