President. – Dear colleagues, good afternoon and welcome back to Strasbourg. I have three points from my end. First of all, this weekend marked 500 days since the start of Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine; 500 days of Ukraine beating the odds; 500days of Ukrainians inspiring the world; 500 days of Europe and a democratic world united like at few other times in history.
I want to say how proud I am that our European Ϸվ has stood with Ukraine and its people from day one. That this House has led calls for Ukraine to be granted EU candidate status. That our Ϸվ has pushed forward the political momentum for humanitarian, military and financial support. That when Ukraine needed us to help procure generators, our pan-European Generators of Hope campaign provided heating and light. That when it came to legislation, the deals we have reached with the Council on the joint procurement in defence and the Act in Support of Ammunition Production will make a real difference. And here, let me thank all those colleagues who are involved in these critical files.
So let me say again: this Ϸվ, our European Union, will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with the courageous people of Ukraine for as long as it takes for Ukraine, for Europe, for democracy, for liberty to prevail.
We are also marking 100days since the illegal detention in Russia of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich. As we have done since his capture, let me reiterate once again our solidarity, our support and our determination to see him freed immediately.
In the next days, we will also mark 300 weeks since the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia. This House will continue to call for justice to be served. Because being a journalist takes courage, but this Ϸվ is committed to ensuring that we have the right legislation in place to make sure that people should not be forced to be brave to do it. And that is our commitment.
Dear colleagues, last Saturday, we also witnessed what happened with the violent disruption of Tbilisi Pride in Georgia. Anti-LGBTIQ rhetoric, disinformation and violence have no place in these debates, and the lives and safety of the LGBTIQ community must be a priority. People deserve to live their lives free from fear. From here, I wanted to signal our solidarity and our support.