Meeting of the Committee on Foreign Affairs on the Strategic military situation in the Black Sea Basin following the illegal annexation of Crimea by Russia in the EP in Brussels. Vote and statement by Ioan Mircea PAȘCU (S&D,RO), rapporteur

Committee on Foreign Affairs

Brussels

statement

meeting

EU - Russia (T)

vote

crisis in Crimea (T)

PASCU, Ioan Mircea (S&D, RO)

Strategic military situation in the Black Sea Basin following the illegal annexation of Crimea by Russia: extracts from the vote and statement by Ioan Mircea PAȘCU (S&D,RO), rapporteur

Exterior view of European Parliament, Brussels (1 shot).

E-vote result: adopted. Total voters: 56, 42 in favour, 13 against, 1 abstentions. (1 shot).

SOUNDBITE (English), Ioan Mircea PASCU (S&amp;D, RO), Rapporteur, "Well I think you know that first we have to deal with the illegal annexation of the territory belonging to another state which is challenging the existing international order, international law and also the security system in Europe after the end of the Cold war and not only - after the Second World War. And secondly I think you know that trough the developments, the military developments, the strong rearmament of Crimea, Russia practically creates another launching pad, all the proportions of Kaliningrad, this time in the Black sea. Because in one year defensive force which existed there limited to protect the ports of Sevastopol in two other smaller facilities have been transformed into a striking force comprising the all three services, which is a very powerful instrument with which Russia can threaten practically - Central Europe, the Balkans, Southern Europe and also Eastern Mediterranean and even the Middle East."

SOUNDBITE (English), Ioan Mircea PASCU (S&amp;D, RO), Rapporteur, <p>"Europe should recognize that strategic situation in the Black sea has changed dramatically and should take that into account as a challenge. And security treat, potential security treat under certain circumstances and should respond together with NATO to this situation. Up until now the only instrument the European Union has to deal with the Black sea it is Black sea Synergy which has been dated in from 2007 and is practically at this moment blocked and non-functional."</p>