European Parliament reprensentatives look back at one year of Russian agrression against Ukraine. Nstatement by Cristian Silviu BUŞOI, Chair of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) of the European Parliament, talks about the very first thoughts he had when the aggression started. He also looks back at the work his ITRE Committee has achieved since the beginning of the war, and what is left to be done to further support Ukraine.

EU - Ukraine (T)

Committee on Industry, Research and Energy

statement

troubles in Ukraine (T)

BUŞOI, Cristian-Silviu (EPP, RO)

solidarity with Ukraine (T)

Ukraine's application for EU membership (T)

consequences of the war in Ukraine (T)

One year of Russian Aggression against Ukraine: statement by Cristian Silviu BUŞOI, Chair of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE)

Title: One year of Russian Aggression against Ukraine: 

SOUNDBITE (English), Cristian-Silviu BU&#350;OI (EPP, RO), Chair of the ITRE Committee, QUESTION: How did you learn about the Russian aggression against Ukraine? It was extremely shocking to see an invasion. To see illegal aggression against a sovereign state. To see starting a war that at that point was not very clear how long it would be. But clearly, a war with very bad consequences and the tragic loss of lives. It was shocking. It was extremely disappointing. It was also a little bit frightening to see in these times after many decades of peace in Europe, real war, a devastating war to the borders of European Union and the Europe. Actually, if we look to the geography.

SOUNDBITE (English), Cristian-Silviu BU&#350;OI (EPP, RO), Chair of the ITRE Committee, QUESTION: Looking back at the past 12 months, how would estimate the role of your Committee? We saw from the beginning the sanctions. We saw a total ban on coal imports. Now, we are in a situation that we banned all imports of oil. More than 90% of the previous imports are now banned. And of course, refined products in oil are banned to come from Russia. And a very strong commitment of European Union with the REPOWER EU program to phase out totally imports of from Russia to diversify our sources of gas and also to replace gas with the renewable hydrogen and to invest in energy efficiency.

SOUNDBITE (English), Cristian-Silviu BU&#350;OI (EPP, RO), Chair of the ITRE Committee, As a direct and concrete support to Ukraine, from the beginning, we manage, under the European Parliament's ITRE committee, sent a very strong signal and also political support. We managed to make possible the connection between the greed of Ukrainian electricity and the Republic of Moldova, very important for me personally, with the European continental grid. And last but not least, we mobilise money for energy fund. We gave support also for the generators and also funds in order to support their energy system, very heavily attacked by by Russians.

SOUNDBITE (English), Cristian-Silviu BU&#350;OI (EPP, RO), Chair of the ITRE Committee, QUESTION: What did we get right and what we got wrong? We did right with our strategic decision to phase out totally the import of energy products from from Russia. We did right with, of course, all the sanctions that we did on their industry. We did the right a lot with the support for Ukrainian refugees. And here not only my country, Romania, but also Poland and all the bordering countries. And then, of course, with the support of all European member states, we really helped the refugees. What was wrong may be the commitment felt by the Ukrainian people should be even stronger because sometimes they felt that not all EU member states had the same commitment and the same determination to impose sanctions.

SOUNDBITE (English), Cristian-Silviu BU&#350;OI (EPP, RO), Chair of the ITRE Committee, QUESTION: Which main actions should EP encourage to further support Ukraine? Of course, European Parliament should give our political support to Ukraine to become member of European Union. We have to be realistic. This cannot be overnight, but it should be a clear perspective and without making any prejudice to the clear criteria that we apply to all member states that at some point became a member of European Union. We need to offer the assistance to the Ukrainian people and Ukrainian institutions to fulfil these criterias and also to speed up the process, And clearly we need to be prepared for the reconstruction of Ukraine because we have this duty to help them to reconstruct the country.