On May 5, the Chair and members of the Committee on Foreign Policy and Interparliamentary Cooperation of the Verhovna Rada of Ukraine took part in a meeting of the European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs.
The meeting was held in a video conference format under the joint chairmanship of Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the European Parliament David McAllister and Chair of the Committee on Foreign Policy and Interparliamentary Cooperation of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Oleksandr Merezhko.
Ukrainian parliamentarians informed colleagues about the current security and humanitarian situation in Ukraine, especially about the russian strikes on civilian infrastructure, including energy and water supply facilities.
Particular attention was drawn to russia’s nuclear blackmail and the situation at the Zaporizhzhia NPP.
Emphasis was placed on the importance of strengthening sanctions against russia, in particular its so-called “shadow fleet” and Rosatom, as well as on the need for continued comprehensive support for Ukraine, including in meeting its air defence needs.
Particular attention was paid to the implementation of reforms in Ukraine required for progress towards EU accession, in particular in the areas of anti-corruption policy and the fight against corruption, as well as the protection of human rights, including the rights of national minorities.
The interaction between the Government and the Parliament in the context of European integration was also discussed, along with prospects for opening all negotiation clusters within Ukraine’s EU accession process.
Chair of the Committee on Foreign Policy and Interparliamentary Cooperation Oleksandr Merezhko expressed gratitude for the continued and comprehensive support of the European Parliament, in particular for the recent adoption of the resolution “Ensuring accountability and justice in response to russia’s continued attacks against civilians in Ukraine”, as well as for the European Council’s decision to provide Ukraine with a large-scale financial loan of EUR 90 billion.
On the Ukrainian side, the meeting was attended by members of the Ukrainian Parliament, including the chairs of the subcommittees of the Committee, Mariana Bezuhla, Maria Ionova and Yelyzaveta Yasko, and Committee member Iryna Gerashchenko.
A video recording of the meeting is available at the following link