EESC presidency and President of the REX section

We see an unprovoked aggression against freedom, against democracy, against values and against the foundations of the European Union as such which was founded on the power of law instead of the law of power. The reason for building a European Union –that is peace - today is more important than ever. As Europeans we need to stand together in solidarity and with Ukrainian people

In less than a week since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the European Union pushed measures that were unimaginable just a month ago. The war in Ukraine is bringing out the humanity of the EU and its citizens, who are putting freedom and peace before interest and trade. The awakening of Europe is visible across the policy spectrum. If Europe wants to continue to live in peace, it must finally build a strong foreign policy and common defence.
The taboo has vanished seeing war again on our continent. This growing momentum towards safeguarding peace and solidarity is giving Europe its new torch to rally Europeans and not only.
The EU needed to rediscover the desire for peace to keep building its construct.
Putin, rather than dividing Europe, has united us all towards that mission. Putin should be reminded, as Tolstoj rightly wrote, that “Kings are the slaves of history

Russian aggression is a direct threat on the European Union. We need to be united and stand side by side in full solidarity with the people of Ukraine, both the ones fleeing as refugees these days, and the ones staying behind to fight. Trade Unions remember that the war machine is fed with the blood of workers, call for the withdrawal of Russian troops, and support civil society in both Ukraine and Russia.

We are standing at a precipice and we must reach out to civil society organisations in Ukraine. Our European values and principles are at stake and we must speak out loudly against aggression and in favour of the values that Europe has stood for since World War II. We know from our history that peace is a ‘fragile flower‘. It requires all of our attention and our commitment. To trample on it, we as humans have the capacity to wipe out our world and all its life forms. It is imperative that  the EU and indeed the wider European family must remain unified and in solidarity with our neighbours.

Déanfaidh CESE a dhícheall leanúint de thacaíocht a thabhairt do shochaí shibhialta na hÚcráine trí na bealaí seanbhunaithe atá againn, amhail Ardán na Sochaí Sibhialta idir an tAontas Eorpach agus an Úcráin agus trínár dteagmhálacha déthaobhacha.