The co-chairs of the Conference on the future of Europe Guy VERHOFSTADT (Renew, BE) and Dubravka SUICA, European Commissioner for demography and democracy, open the first session of the plenary session and commemorate the victims of the war in Ukraine with a minute of silence.

VERHOFSTADT, Guy (Renew, BE)

statement

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

future of the European Union (T)

ŠUICA, Dubravka (EPP, HR, EC)

Conference on the Future of Europe: opening of the plenary and minute of silence in tribute to the victims in Ukraine

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/18900848/1646997402103_I221321Chapters%5BSD-EN%5D.srt

SOUNDBITE (English), Guy VERHOFSTADT (Renew, BE), CoFoE co-chair, Dear colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, may I ask to take your seats, please. I think, dear colleagues, that when we started this conference, a few months ago. In 2021, the purpose was to look forward with this conference and to give young people a Europe that is fit for the future. And that was our aim and that was our hope.

SOUNDBITE (English), Guy VERHOFSTADT (Renew, BE), CoFoE co-chair, But we have to recognise that since then, over the last three weeks, a part of Europe is being dragged back to the past. Hit by the kind of war we thought we will never see it again. Aggression and violence on the massive scale houses, schools, hospitals being hit, children being killed, whole cities emptied in fear. So our worst fears indeed becoming a reality.

SOUNDBITE (English), Guy VERHOFSTADT (Renew, BE), CoFoE co-chair, And I say a part of Europe, because that is what Ukraine is. Not only does it lie on the European continent, but Ukraine is fighting for European values. For European principles, for freedom and democracy, for human rights, for decency, it is a nation with a European history, with the European outlook, with European aspirations that deserves the status of candidate member immediately.

SOUNDBITE (English), Guy VERHOFSTADT (Renew, BE), CoFoE co-chair, And this afternoon, we will open the session on EU in the world with a contribution from Ukrainian citizens whom we have invited to our hemicycle to make their contribution to that important topic. The dramatic events in Ukraine are, in fact sending shockwaves through our European Union and also to our conference we are holding today. And the conclusions of this conference will need to reflect the ongoing tragedy in Ukraine.

SOUNDBITE (English), Guy VERHOFSTADT (Renew, BE), CoFoE co-chair, It is clear the future will be different from what we could imagine only even a few weeks ago. And it's also clear that the whole world will be different after the events that started on the 21st of February. So it will be necessary to this conference for Europe to change and to deal with that future and to deal also with the new world order that is emerging.

SOUNDBITE (English), Dubravka SUICA, CoFoE co-chair, Thank you Guy. Good morning. Dear citizens, honourable members and all partners present in person and online today. It is my pleasure to welcome everyone here this morning in person and online. Firstly, my gratitude goes to the citizens for you, for your work so far these days, as a member of this house and now European Commission Vice-President. I also welcome the opportunity to work on the future of the European Union hand in hand with citizens.

SOUNDBITE (English), Dubravka SUICA, CoFoE co-chair, From the beginning, I have trusted citizens to deliver. Here at the Conference on the Future of Europe, we are engaged in an exercise bringing us closer to our citizens. But Putin is launching military action against Ukrainian citizens that had voiced European aspirations. We see this as also being an attack on our values, on our aspirations and on our way of life.

SOUNDBITE (English), Dubravka SUICA, CoFoE co-chair, Last night, I came from Ukraine-Polish border where I visited one reception centre for children. So when I saw all these scenes and I witnessed it firsthand, I think when I saw all these people who have to flee their homes, then I think that there is a big responsibility on us here. We have really to make our democracy fit for the future, and we can never take our democracy for granted.

SOUNDBITE (English), Dubravka SUICA, CoFoE co-chair, I know what it means to live through a war. I know what it means to be frightened for the lives of your children and family. I know what it means to be dependent on the help and intervention of friends and allies. Today, all 27 member states of the European Union stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine, together with citizens of this conference from across all European Union. Thank you.

SOUNDBITE (English), Guy VERHOFSTADT (Renew, BE), CoFoE co-chair, So first and foremost, ladies and gentlemen. Our hearts go out to the civilian victims of this senseless war. We take on the people of Mariupol, of Kharkiv, around Kiev and in so many other cities and villages of Ukraine. We all think that they must never be forgotten, and I want to open today's session, as has been requested by our citizens ambassadors with a moment of silence in solidarity with the victims in Ukraine.