EUCO: European values under test - we need strength and unity

25.02.2015 18:03

EUCO: European values under test - we need strength and unity

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"Only two weeks have gone by since the informal European Council meeting, yet it seems it was ages ago, so many things have happened. The Council was meant to discuss terrorism but circumstances added two more topics to the agenda – the crisis in Greece and Ukraine which was under attack. What do those three issues have in common? They all constitute a test to our European values," said Jacek Saryusz-Wolski, EPP Group Vice-Chairman responsible for Foreign Affairs, speaking at today’s plenary debate on the result of the informal February European Council meeting.

"We have delivered a consistent action plan in response to the first challenge - the Charlie Hebdo attack - an attack on freedom of expression through an act of terrorism. As far as Greece was concerned, we stood up to the principle of binding commitments of Member States. Pacta sunt servanta – the same rules of fiscal responsibility apply to all. We have shown responsibility as well as solidarity with Greece,“ he added.

"Ukraine is also a test for our values. The situation has some elements of both terrorism and economic collapse. The case of Ukraine is about changing borders by force and violating international law through state sponsored-terrorism by Russia, and by waging war,“ Saryusz-Wolski underlined.

"Shall the EU stay on the course of a value-based foreign policy, shall we be faithful to our principle that more war should incur more sanctions? We are giving a chance to diplomacy through the Minsk Agreements, but we should support it with proper leverage and pressure. For example, by imposing economic costs on the aggressor, by allowing the victim to defend itself from the aggressor and by supporting its defence capabilities according to two international law principles – the right to defend and the responsibility to protect. For all that we need strength and unity," said the EPP Group Vice-Chairman.

Note to editors

The EPP Group is the largest political group in the European Parliament with 219 Members from 27 Member States

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