[For the full text of the Joint Statement, see the link to the PDF file below.]
Brussels/ Kyiv, 24 March 2022: The 13th, extraordinary meeting of the EU-Ukraine Parliamentary Association Committee (PAC) was held on 24 March 2022 in Brussels and Kyiv and was co-chaired by Vadym Halaichuk on behalf of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, and by Witold Waszczykowski on behalf of the European Parliament. The EU-Ukraine Parliamentary Association Committee remains determined to continue its activities and to hold regular discussions on EU-Ukraine relations, on the parliamentary follow-up to Ukraine's official application for EU membership and on EU support to Ukraine in the context of the ongoing Russian war of aggression.
Members of the EU-Ukraine Parliamentary Association Committee adopted the following statement:
We, Members of the EU-Ukraine Parliamentary Association Committee, condemn in the strongest possible terms the Russian Federation's unprovoked and unjustified, senseless and cruel military aggression against Ukraine. This full-scale military invasion is not only a gross violation of international law and an attack on the principles and mechanism of cooperation and security in Europe and the rules-based international order, but also a violation of the basic principles of human coexistence and civilisation.
We commend the Ukrainian people's heroic struggle and united effort against the Russian military assault, in the defence not only of their country but also of our common European values of peace, parliamentary democracy, pluralism and basic freedoms.
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We commend the extraordinary solidarity and support provided for the Ukrainian refugees in Moldova and in EU Member States, particularly in neighbouring Poland, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia, as well as the activation of the Temporary Protection Directive and the financial resources mobilised for their support by the EU, Member States, local authorities, civil society organisations and ordinary citizens. We draw the attention to the plight of the growing number of internally displaced persons inside Ukraine who are fleeing destroyed homes and cities, residential areas under shelling and who may lack basic human needs for shelter, food, health care and sanitation.
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The Parliamentary Association Committee welcomes Ukraine's official request for EU membership. We reiterate the European Parliament's call for the EU institutions to work towards granting EU candidate status to Ukraine, in line with Article 49 of the Treaty on European Union and on the basis of merit. Therefore we expect the European Commission to carry out its assessment swiftly, enabling the subsequent granting of official candidate status.
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We call for the EU and its Member States to continue providing the strongest possible economic and financial support to Ukraine, as well as macro-financial and technical assistance, to recalibrate and regroup EU budget instruments available to support Ukraine, and to devise a long-term strategy to support Ukraine's efforts in strengthening the resilience of its democratic institutions and economy.
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Source : © European Union, 2022 - EP