6
Apr
2022
Watch
Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 24-25 March 2022: including the latest developments of the war against Ukraine and the EU sanctions against Russia and their implementation (debate)
Dear President Metsola, President von der Leyen, President Michel, High Representative Borrell! First of all, I would like to thank Roberta Metsola. It was the right moment to go to Kiev last week and send a signal of unity and solidarity among Democrats and elected parliamentarians. It was a courageous step to take this journey. And, dear Roberta, I would like to thank you once again for this. Now also the announced visit of our Commission President together with the High Representative to Kiev for next week: The signals come at the right time. They are more urgent than ever. Mariupol almost completely destroyed, deportations of Ukrainian citizens to Russia, mass rapes of Ukrainian women by soldiers, by Russian soldiers. And now on the weekend Butscha: Executions of unarmed civilians whose only mistake is that they are Ukrainians. You take your breath away, you're speechless. And honestly, you're also a bit ashamed of the powerlessness that characterizes you. I think about the European idea. The last century was marked by war crimes. It was marked by massacres of civilians, genocide carried out by German soldiers. The lesson we learned from this was: never again, Never again. The question I ask myself today: Is this spirit alive? How strong is this European spirit? Are we serious about ‘never again’? ‘Never again’ means first of all: the acute attempt to create justice in this difficult situation, to carry out investigations, to take up judicial evidence of the war crimes that have been committed. European support must be ensured wherever possible. Putin is a war criminal. Butsha's murderers must be brought to justice. You won't be able to hide. No war criminal should feel safe in Europe. This is the first "never again". The second ‘never again’ is weapons, weapons, weapons. The supplies we are currently making available to Ukrainian friends are not sufficient. And it is frankly a shame for Europe that we are not able to bring production up faster now, that we can produce weapons. We also need heavy weapons. The deliveries of tanks from the Czech Republic are a good signal. And yes, if we are not prepared to establish a no-fly zone, then Ukraine needs anti-aircraft missiles to assert itself. "Never again" also means that we are now financially supporting Ukraine. We have reports that state bankruptcy is imminent in the next few days because there is a lack of revenue and the costs are still there. Therefore, money must not play a role in this matter now. "Never again" also means supporting the new package of sanctions, an energy embargo. Coal is a good step. Honestly, it goes through your mind why new pictures were necessary so that we can take this step. But we want to go one step further. I believe that there has now been a broad consensus in the European Parliament's negotiations for our resolution that we also call for an immediate halt to oil supplies to the European Union as a European Parliament in broad terms. There are big gains that would no longer flow to Russia. And when we talk about the sanctions package, it is right that we conclude European ports for Russian ships, that we launch a comprehensive sanctions package for the banks, that all banks are now excluded from SWIFT. And I would like to mention explicitly that we should finally take individuals from the list of the foundation of Alexei Navalny. There are people on it that we should put on the European sanctions list. "Never again" also means that no one can remain neutral. I would therefore like to express my thanks to Charles Michel and Ursula von der Leyen for the clarity at last Friday's EU-China summit. It is depressing to see that China incorporates Russian propaganda into its argumentation, and especially after Butsha, China must also know: Those who support Putin, those who support Russia, are on the wrong side. And there will also be the question for us Europeans whether we can credibly announce, together with the USA: Those who support Russia, those who supply weapons, have to face consequences. And "never again" means that we need a position of strength as Europeans. Europe needs to arm itself. Unfortunately, the European dimension is lacking in God's initiatives. We know of many initiatives at the national level to strengthen defence. But the European dimension is missing. And it is urgently needed. ‘Never again’, colleagues, mass executions of defenceless civilians, mass rapes, genocide, war. Putin is the opposite of what Europe stands for, what the idea of Europe stands for. The war in Ukraine is our war. And that's why we ask ourselves the question: Are we going to do it justice? Are we acting as Europeans now? "Never again" - now!