In a resolution adopted today with 637 votes in favour, 13 against and 26 abstentions, the European Parliament (EP) strongly condemns Russia's "unprovoked and unjustified" military aggression against Ukraine and demands that the Kremlin put an end to all military actions in the country. The European Assembly also denounces the role of Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko in this aggression.
MEPs categorically reject the "Russian rhetoric that points to the possible use of weapons of mass destruction", reminding Russia of its international obligations and warning of the dangers of a nuclear escalation of the conflict.
The assembly urges the European Commission and Member States to provide more emergency humanitarian aid to Ukraine, in cooperation with United Nations humanitarian agencies and other partner international organisations. It also reminds all Member States of their responsibility to respect the fundamental rights of all asylum seekers seeking security in the EU, “regardless of their nationality”, and to put an end to refoulement.
MEPs condemn the racism experienced by African and Middle Eastern students who were prevented from getting on buses and trains to reach the border or stopped at the border and therefore prevented from getting to safety.
Efforts to grant Ukraine EU candidate country status
The EP calls on the EU institutions to “make efforts to grant Ukraine the status of candidate country for accession to the EU”. This type of procedure must comply with Article 49 of the Treaty on European Union and be based on merit, says the resolution. In the meantime, the Union must remain committed to integrating Ukraine into the EU's single market, in line with the current EU-Ukraine Association Agreement.
Tougher sanctions against Russia
While they welcome the swift adoption of sanctions by the EU, MEPs insist on broader restrictive measures aimed at strategically weakening Russia's economy and industrial base.
The parliamentarians intend, in particular, to restrict imports of the most important goods exported by Russia, such as oil and gas, to ban new EU investments in Russia (and vice versa), as well as to block the access of all Russian banks to the system. European financial system and exclude Russia from the SWIFT system.
Various sanctions, including exclusion from the SWIFT system, are to be extended to Belarus on the basis of its direct support for Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Arms supply, refugee protection
The EP calls on Member States to speed up the supply of defensive weapons to Ukraine, in accordance with Article 51 of the UN Charter, which authorizes self-defence, individual and collective. It also advocates greater cooperation with Ukraine on security intelligence on the ongoing aggression.
The assembly welcomes the EU's commitment to activate the directive on temporary protection in order to provide immediate access to protection to all refugees fleeing the war from Ukraine. Responsibility for the reception of refugees arriving at the EU's external borders must be shared equitably between Member States, he adds.
End of “Golden Visas” for Russian Oligarchs
MEPs are demanding the swift adoption of targeted sanctions against those responsible for high-level corruption in Russia and Belarus, as well as against oligarchs and officials close to power.
The EP urges Member States and allied countries that have residency-through-investment schemes (so-called “golden visas”) to re-examine all beneficiaries of said residency status and to revoke those granted to Russians with high-value assets and their families, in particular those associated with people and companies subject to sanctions.
MEPs also want the assets of “oligarchs close to Russian leaders” to be frozen in the EU and their Schengen visas to be cancelled.
The Assembly reiterates its call on the Commission and the Member States to apply and enforce the rules on money laundering and to enhance transparency, especially with regard to funds deposited or spent in the EU by the Russian elite.
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