Following the missile blast in Poland on the night of 15th November, the AFET (Foreign Affairs) and SEDE (Security and Defence) Committees organise an extraordinary joint meeting to discuss the latest updates and the situation. Statements by David McALLISTER (EPP, DE), Chair of AFET Committee and Nathalie LOISEAU (Renew FR), Chair of SEDE Subcommittee.

Committee on Foreign Affairs

Subcommittee on Security and Defence

troubles in Ukraine (T)

McALLISTER, David (EPP, DE)

EU - Poland (T)

extraordinary meeting

LOISEAU, Nathalie (Renew, FR)

consequences of the war in Ukraine (T)

EP extraordinary joint AFET/SEDE meeting on the rocket strike on the village of Przewodów (Poland) on 15 November 2022 and its consequences: statements by David McALLISTER (EPP, DE), Chair of AFET and Nathalie LOISEAU (Renew FR), Chair of SEDE

Title: EP extraordinary joint AFET/SEDE meeting on the rocket strike on the village of Przewod&#243;w (Poland) on 15 November 2022 and its consequences: statements by David McALLISTER (EPP, DE), Chair of AFET and Nathalie LOISEAU (Renew FR), Chair of SEDE (I-233528)

Arrival of David McALLISTER (EPP, DE), Chair of AFET Committee

David McALLISTER (EPP, DE), Chair of AFET Committee (2 shots)

Nathalie LOISEAU (Renew FR), Chair of SEDE (1 shot)

SOUNDBITE (English), David McALLISTER (EPP, DE), Chair of AFET Committee, We organised this meeting of the Foreign Affairs committee and the Subcommitte of Security and Defence on very short notice to update us about the events that happened yesterday night in Poland. What we have seen is that while the G20 summit is ongoing in Indonesia, the Russian Federation has started another wave of unprecedented attacks on the civilian infrastructure in Ukraine.

SOUNDBITE (English), David McALLISTER (EPP, DE), Chair of AFET Committee, And this shows once again that the Russian Federation is not willing to negotiate. The Russian Federation wants to continue to escalate and that's why they are fighting more and more aggressively in this war of aggression against Ukraine. Members across all party lines expressed condolences and also solidarity with Poland in these challenging times, and it still needs to be 100 percent investigated where this missile came from.

SOUNDBITE (English), David McALLISTER (EPP, DE), Chair of AFET Committee, But one thing is clear. The whole origin of this war, the whole origin of these incidents lie to 100% in the hands of the Kremlin. The Russian Federation has started a violent war of aggression against Ukraine. It is illegal. And that's why the Russian activities against Ukraine should be considered as war crimes.

SOUNDBITE (English), Nathalie LOISEAU (Renew FR), Chair of SEDE Committee, I think it was important to have this meeting just after the tragic events in Poland. First we all wanted to extend our condolences to Polish people and expressing solidarity as well. We don't know yet exactly what took place. We don't know how to attribute the strike in Poland, but the context is well known.

SOUNDBITE (English), Nathalie LOISEAU (Renew FR), Chair of SEDE Committee, We know that the war of aggression of Russia in Ukraine creates uncertainty for the whole Europe. And now we have evidence of it. We will not be safe until this war is over, until Russian troops withdraw from Ukraine and until we weaken Russia as an aggressive state that goes against the international order.

SOUNDBITE (English), Nathalie LOISEAU (Renew FR), Chair of SEDE Committee, So we need to enhance the support to Ukraine militarily, financially and with humanitarian assistance. We need to strengthen the sanctions against Russia. And we need to improve the security of Europe through NATO, of course, because it's the first pillar of our security but also through European defence. We have to make progress because we cannot just think that we live in peace and there's nothing we should do. We have a sense of urgency right now.