European Union

The war in Ukraine is also having repercussions on international cultural life: Russian star conductor Valery Gergiev lost his post as chief conductor of the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra after he failed to publicly distance himself from his friend Vladimir Putin. Performances by opera star Anna Netrebko, who said on the weekend that she was against artists being forced to reveal their political beliefs, have also been cancelled. Europe's press analyses the pros and cons of such views.

The European Parliament wants more support for Ukraine and tougher sanctions against Russia following its invasion of the country.

Source : © European Union, 2022 - EP

In the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, MEPs demand tougher sanctions on Russia and new efforts to grant Ukraine EU candidate status.
Committee on Foreign Affairs
Subcommittee on Security and Defence

Source : © European Union, 2022 - EP

Debating Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, MEPs expressed unwavering support for Ukraine and for efforts to bring the country closer to the European community.
Committee on Foreign Affairs
Subcommittee on Security and Defence

Source : © European Union, 2022 - EP

“Our way of life is worth defending. It is worth a cost. For the next generation, for all those in Ukraine and around the world who believe in Europe. For all those who want to be free.”

Source : © European Union, 2022 - EP

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to address the European Parliament plenary in today’s debate on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Committee on Foreign Affairs
Subcommittee on Security and Defence

Source : © European Union, 2022 - EP

450 employees in Spain who lost their jobs in the car industry when the Nissan production plant in Barcelona closed should receive €2.8 million in EU aid.
Committee on Budgets

Source : © European Union, 2022 - EP

The final meeting of the Panel on ‘A stronger economy, social justice and jobs / Education, culture, youth and sport / Digital transformation’ took place in Dublin over the weekend.
Committee on Constitutional Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2022 - EP

MEPs and national parliamentarians will discuss the post-pandemic future for Europe’s women at an inter-parliamentary committee meeting on Thursday morning.
Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality

Source : © European Union, 2022 - EP

The final meeting of a series of citizens’ panels saw Europeans formulate ideas on how the EU should promote quality jobs, a healthy economy and social justice.

Source : © European Union, 2022 - EP

As many Ukrainians flee from Russian attacks, the EU must work together to provide humanitarian help and take in refugees, Hungarian MEP Katalin Cseh (RENEW), who is currently in Western Ukraine, told EURACTIV in an interview.

Ukraine’s energy system is continuing to function as Russia invades the country, but a stray rocket that damages energy infrastructure or a nuclear power plant could prove a major blow, a Ukrainian energy company warned on Saturday (26 February).

To think that Russian companies could until Friday count on spare parts for armed aircrafts, or semiconductors, or oil products, from Europe, as their country was fuelling the most dangerous security crisis since World War Two, is beyond comprehension.

The EU is set to discuss in the coming days the ban on Russia's access to the SWIFT international payments system after the last holdout among the EU27, Germany, dropped its opposition, allowing the bloc to step up sanctions against Moscow following its invasion of Ukraine.

Ukraine is seeking more US and British anti-tank weapons as the EU moves closer to blocking Russia from the SWIFT financial messaging system.

Russian forces pounded Ukrainian cities with artillery and cruise missiles on Saturday (26 February) for a third day running but a defiant President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said the capital Kyiv remained in Ukrainian hands.