Urmas Paet (Renew). – Head kolleegid, hea peaminister! Mul on väga hea meel, et Euroopa Parlamendi ees on täna just nimelt Eesti peaminister, kes on Eesti ja Euroopa põhimõtete väljendamisel ning Euroopa Liidu ja NATO positsioonide kujundamisel olnud selge ja põhimõttekindel. Aga Ukrainas on juba praeguseks kümned tapetud ja sajad vigastatud lapsed. Mariupoli ja teiste linnade elanikud on lõksus Vene pommide all. Üle kahe miljoni põgeniku, kellest enamik on naised lastega. See kõik avaldab mõju kogu Euroopale. Ja see kõik kestab, kuni Putini režiim jätkab tapatööd Ukrainas. Humanitaarkoridore on põgenikele vaja kohe. End kaitsvale Ukrainale tuleb anda kõike, mida vaja. Lennukitest ja muudest relvadest toidu ja ravimiteni. Gaasi ja nafta eest makstav Euroopa raha ei tohi enam jõuda Vene sõjamasinat rahastama. Seda kõike saab vaba maailm tagada, et aidata Ukrainal agressor tõrjuda.
Putini režiim on Venemaa välja pommitanud nüüdisaegsest Euroopast. Aga Euroopa Liit peab ümber vaatama ka oma suhtumise neisse riikidesse, kes Venemaa sõda Ukrainas takka kiidavad. Ma näen siin vabanevat näiteks Euroopa Liidu kandidaatriigi kohta Ukraina jaoks.
Eestile on praeguses maailmas loomulik toimimiskeskkond meie Euroopa Liidu ja NATO liikmelisus. Samasugune võimalus peab olema ka teistel Euroopa rahvastel. Eesotsas Ukrainaga. Et ei korduks kunagi see, et lastega kodumaalt põgenenud naine ütleb läbi pisarate: „Mul polnud teist valikut“.
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War in Ukraine: MEPs outline their vision for Europe’s future security.
#WAR #Sanctions #Russia #Ukraine #PutinsWar #refugees
In the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, MEPs call for more EU defence efforts and further steps to cut Europe’s energy dependence on the Kremlin.
On Wednesday morning, MEPs debated Europe’s role in a changing world and the continent’s security situation in the wake of the Russian aggression against Ukraine with Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas and EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell.
Kicking off the debate, Parliament’s President Roberta Metsola touched upon what the EU must do next to respond to Russia’s invasion and the Kremlin’s attempts to destabilise the European security order: “We need to re-assess Europe’s role in this new world. We need to boost our investment in defence and innovative technologies. This is the time for us to take decisive steps to ensure the security of all Europeans. The time to build a real Security and Defence Union and reduce our dependence on the Kremlin. What we have seen so far in terms of European coordination, solidarity and unity is unprecedented - and must be the blueprint for us going forward.”
Reminding MEPs that she, herself, is the child of a deportee whom Stalin sent away to Siberia, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas praised the actions the EU has taken to help Ukraine and the solidarity European citizens have shown to those fleeing war. She, nevertheless, pointed out: “We are in this for the long haul. We will have to exercise strategic patience, because peace is not going to break out tomorrow.”
Prime Minister Kallas called for a “Policy of Smart Containment”. She stressed the need for the EU “to push harder and faster to cut our energy dependence on Russian gas and oil” and to strengthen European defence working “hand-in-hand with NATO”. Speaking of the future of Ukraine, she said: “It is not only in our interest to give Ukraine a membership perspective; it is also our moral duty to do so. Ukraine is not fighting for Ukraine; it is fighting for Europe. If not now, then when?”
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, in turn, emphasised how the ongoing war will “leave a mark in history” and underlined that the EU and its citizens must now finally make a collective effort to reduce their energy dependence on Russia. This also includes explaining to citizens “that our way of life comes with a cost”. Europe will have to be ready to pay the price in order to respond to Russia, and the consequences of this war will be long-lasting; shaping European policies for years and decades to come, he said.
Boost European defence, new European asylum rules needed, cut Russian gas.
In their speeches, many MEPs highlighted the EU’s previous failed efforts to boost its defence capabilities. They welcomed the new Strategic Compass to provide security in the EU and urged for a joint push to advance the European Defence Union, but called for efforts from all member states to transform their pledges into reality. They also stressed the need for the EU to cut its use of Russian gas and oil, for more investments in green technologies and energy storage and to introduce a proper migration system for welcoming and sharing responsibility for refugees.
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