Work towards granting EU candidate status to Ukraine

The EPP Group strongly condemns Russia’s unjustified invasion of Ukraine and supports Ukraine’s accession to the EU. "We call on the EU Institutions to work towards granting EU candidate status to Ukraine, in line with Article 49 of the Treaty and on the basis of merit", commented Rasa Juknevičienė MEP, Vice-Chairwoman of the EPP Group, and Michael Gahler MEP, EPP Group Spokesman for Foreign Affairs, ahead of today’s debate and vote on the Resolution on the Russian aggression against Ukraine. The EPP Group also condemns the involvement of Belarus in the conflict.

“Ukrainians signed the EU membership request in their blood. European Ukraine must and will be in our family, in the EU family. The courage, the dedication and determination of Ukrainians to defend themselves deserve the highest respect and the highest support from the whole democratic world”, said Juknevičienė. “Putin is a war criminal and as such, he must face trial in the international penal tribunal, as well as his peer Alexander Lukashenko”, stressed Juknevičienė.

“Russian unjustified, unprovoked and barbaric aggression towards a sovereign state is a turning point in European history and as such it requires adequate actions and decisions. Ukraine is a free and independent country and is free to determine its future. For the second time in less than a decade, Ukrainians are being called upon to prove their dedication to freedom and democracy with their lives. The EPP Group has always pushed for the EU’s answer to stand up to the level of their sacrifice. In addition to all immediate help, we need to formulate the answers for the near future. We call on the EU Institutions to work towards granting EU candidate status, as foreseen by the EU Treaties, and also do the utmost to continue to work towards Ukraine’s integration into the EU Single Market as foreseen in the Association Agreement”, concluded Gahler, who negotiated the text of the Resolution which will be voted on today.