Solidarity with Ukraine

The European Parliament President Roberta Metsola was in Kyiv on April 1 to express the European Union´s support to the Ukrainian people and to condemn the unjustified Russian attack. She travelled on the invitation of the Chairman of the Ukrainian Parliament (Verkhovna Rada), Ruslan Stefanchuk. Stefanchuk spoke to the MEPs during the June plenary in Strasbourg. In his address the Speaker of the Rada called on the EU to endorse his country’s membership application. Welcoming Mr Stefanchuk to the hemicycle in Strasbourg, Parliament’s President Roberta Metsola underscored Ukraine’s “fight for freedom, for democracy, for the values that bind us as Europeans, is our fight. What Ukraine has had to endure was unthinkable a few months ago, but your people have inspired the world.”

The EU and its international partners are united in condemning Putin's aggression on Ukraine and providing support to those seeking shelter and fleeing war. The EU intends to offer strong political, financial and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and its people. During March session the Parliament gave the green light to redirect EU regional and asylum funding to EU countries sheltering people fleeing from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and MEPs adopted the Cohesion's Action for Refugees in Europe (CARE). Following the activation on 3 March of the temporary protection status for refugees from Ukraine -which gives them temporary residence rights and access to education and the labour market-, the EU is working on a 10-point plan to enhance the European common response.