External Relations Section (REX) Conference on "Relief and reconstruction of Ukraine and its European perspective" – opening speech

Your Excellencies,
Distinguished guests,
Dear members,
Dear colleagues,
Ladies and gentlemen,

Let me welcome you all to this Conference on "Relief and reconstruction of Ukraine and its European perspective".  In a few days, it will be five months since the Russian Federation under President Vladimir Putin started its unprovoked and unjustified war against Ukraine. I want to reiterate yet again that the EESC condemns in the strongest possible terms this aggression, and calls for an immediate stop to military action on Ukrainian soil.

This horrendous war is fundamentally changing Europe, as we have come to know it, in our lifetime. It has claimed a very high death toll, including civilians, and has caused massive destruction and suffering. It has increased global poverty levels and has resulted in incalculable social, economic and environmental damage. We are witnessing tremendous courage shown by the people of Ukraine who are defending their country against the invaders. Europe and other like-minded countries must continue supporting Ukraine's struggle for peace and freedom by stepping up pressure on the Russian regime, imposing further sanctions and using other tools at their disposal.

One severe consequence of this war is the largest refugee crisis since World War II, a crisis which has changed the migratory landscape of the EU drastically within a few weeks. More than 5.6 million refugees have fled from Ukraine to Europe since Russia started the war, over two times more than in the 2015/2016 refugee crisis. More than 8 million people have been displaced internally within Ukraine. Altogether, over 12 million people have been forced to flee their homes – this is more than a quarter of the population of Ukraine.

The EU, its Member States and European civil society organisations have shown heartening solidarity to Ukraine and Ukrainians, and their continuous actions and efforts since the very first day of the Russian aggression must be openly praised. In particular, we acknowledge the actions led by the countries of first arrival: Poland, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia have been welcoming Ukrainian refugees with a huge display of solidarity. As we all know, Poland has welcomed millions of Ukrainians, providing them with first aid, food and shelter, and then with an opportunity to integrate in the labour market and to offer an education to their children. It is indeed to pay tribute to this unprecedented effort of solidarity, as well as to express our closeness to those who are working every day on the field, that we decided to meet in Kraków today, a city where so much of Ukrainian society has been forced to flee by this inconceivable and criminal war. I am very glad that, despite long-lasting difficulties and impasses in developing a common and functioning migration and asylum policy, the EU has been united in this crisis.

The EESC stands firm in solidarity with Ukraine: we have condemned the aggression since day one, and we have been following events as they were unfolding, always expressing the support of European civil society for our Ukrainian friends in the darkest hour of their recent history. It is clear for us that the return of war in Europe in the 21st century is a tragic event for everyone: for Ukraine, which is under attack and is suffering death, destruction and violation of its internationally recognised sovereignty, for the EU, whose values of democracy and peaceful resolution of conflicts are threatened, and for the entire world, which is risking a food crisis and general destabilisation. All this while the last critical voices within Russian civil society are silenced by ever-increasing repression.

Our position is outlined in a number of statements and, in particular, in two resolutions we adopted in March and in June. The first one was on "The economic, social and environmental impact of the war", the second on "Relief and reconstruction of Ukraine". In our March resolution we expressed the full support of European civil society for the assistance offered to Ukraine and Ukrainian refugees by the EU and its Member States, as well as for the economic sanctions imposed against Russia. We also called on the EU to fully implement the Temporary Protection Directive to assist refugees, to increase sanctions if needed while reducing our energy dependency on Russia, as well as to promote the investigation of war crimes. Furthermore, the EESC demanded enhanced support for Ukrainian civil society, and asked to consider as soon as possible the opening of the integration process into the EU for Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia. Finally, the Committee called for an adequate assistance and recovery plan for the reconstruction of Ukraine.

After the first shock caused by the beginning of the war, we are now looking into the future, starting with the future of Ukraine as a free, democratic and sovereign country. This was the topic of our June resolution, on reconstruction of Ukraine. There, the EESC called on the European Council to grant Ukraine EU membership candidate status, which happened a few days later. The EESC is a strong supporter of EU membership for Ukraine. We trust that Ukraine is part of the European family, since we share the same values of freedom, human rights and democracy. Of course, we are aware that other countries have long been waiting for membership, mainly in the Western Balkans, but we think that one process should not be detrimental to the other. The EESC is in favour of putting in place a system of gradual integration steps based on the fulfilment of the acquis communautaire. Also, new ways should be explored for non-EU members to join Europe's economic, social and security architecture even before accession. It is to be stressed that such partnerships or associations should not replace the perspective of EU membership, which remains the privileged solution when the time comes.

The resolution also invites to give refugees a perspective: Ukrainian refugees should be granted the same rights as EU citizens when it comes to healthcare and access to the labour market, both of which are key to their integration in European society. The social partners can, through collective bargaining and ad hoc measures, help integrate workers and prevent them from becoming victims of exploitation and social dumping. The Committee stresses in particular the role of civil society organisations in the protection and re-integration of vulnerable groups, like unaccompanied minors, children from institutional care settings, persons with disabilities, Roma minorities and victims of sexual violence.

The Committee stresses that immediate European and international financial assistance is needed to save the Ukrainian economy: support must be provided to SMEs, farmers and civil society, including employers’ organisations and trade unions, with a view to keeping them fully operational in times of war. The reconstruction of Ukraine is a one-off situation that should lead to the development of a stronger civil society and of a new economy, based on the latest green and digital technologies, and also driven by innovation. Civil society organisations need to be involved, in order to make sure that rule of law reforms, the fight against corruption and the green and digital transitions can be achieved. Measures must be taken immediately to support Ukrainian farmers for the next harvest and to establish a temporary removal of all obstacles (both administrative and physical) to the movement of agricultural goods, with a view to rapidly increasing imports to the internal EU market and to other parts of the world. It is urgent to reopen and de-mine Ukrainian ports under the auspices of the UN, in order to allow the export of agricultural produce.

Finally, the Committee stresses that its traditional bond with Ukrainian civil society plays an important role in keeping the channels open and enabling participation in the EU integration process. Therefore, the Committee calls on the Member States to step up capacity building, organisational and financial support for Ukrainian civil society organisations, and encourages partnerships between EU and Ukrainian youth organisations. In the resolution, we proposed an event on youth activism and its role in the future reconstruction of Ukraine.

The EESC itself committed to strengthen cooperation and exchanges with Ukrainian civil society organisations, and to continue advocating for maintaining EU solidarity and generosity vis-à-vis Ukraine. As the EESC is the house of organised civil society in the EU, I want to stress the pivotal role of organised civil society in managing the current refugee crisis. European civil society is united for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. I deeply admire the unceasing actions of civil society organisations during this war. They reacted promptly and efficiently, triggering a unique grassroots mobilisation of citizens. There are many CSOs working with incredible energy and efficiency to help refugees by delivering medicines, medical supplies, mental health support and other urgent help.

Across the EU, there are examples of remarkable actions of CSOs and I am very much looking forward to hear about the experience of the civil society organisations whose representatives are speaking today. It is very important that the EU provide financial support to these CSOs so they can keep up their indispensable activities in managing the refugee crisis. Humanitarian assistance has to be scaled up and should be disbursed directly supporting civil society organisations. Specialised NGOs, together with CSOs should be genuinely involved in the programming and monitoring of EU and national humanitarian assistance.

It is perhaps worth mentioning that, as the EESC, we opened our premises to Ukrainian civil society: The Committee hosts now a Ukrainian Civil Society Hub where around 30 civil society representatives can pursue their work for their country. Also, we have regular exchanges with Ukrainian civil society in Ukraine through the bilateral contacts of our members, and in particular via the EU-Ukraine Civil Society Platform. The war has not suspended our common activities, quite the contrary. We were very pleased to welcome some of our Ukrainian colleagues in the EESC at the end of April, and listen to their concerns and hopes. Our members and their national organisations are at the frontline to help refugees from Ukraine and we, as a Committee, are dedicated to strengthen cooperation and exchanges with Ukrainian civil society organisations and to continue stressing the importance of maintaining momentum in favour of a free and independent Ukraine.

It is absolutely crucial that European civil society be involved in the process of assisting Ukraine: through its dialogue with Ukrainian civil society, the Committee can help transmit the concerns and problems of Ukrainians to the European institutions. The EESC is at disposal for this important mission, with a view to support all steps made in order to help Ukrainian refugees, Ukrainian civil society and the reconstruction of the country.

I now have the pleasure to give the floor to the Deputy Mayor of Kraków, Mr Andrzej Kulig, who is in charge of the city's refugee support coordination.

Thank you for your attention. I am looking forward to listening to your contributions.

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External Relations Section (REX) Conference on "Relief and reconstruction of Ukraine and its European perspective" – opening speech

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