EGP Resolution adopted at the 35th EGP Council, Riga, Latvia, 3 - 5 June 2022
Stop Russias war of aggression against Ukraine
We condemn in the strongest possible terms President Putin’s war of aggression against Ukraine. Russia’s full-fledged invasion constitutes an outright attack on Ukraine’s state sovereignty while the totally unprovoked aggression contradicts the fundamental principles of international law. Russia's aggression has resulted in supporters of neutrality in neighbouring states reconsidering their position. We stand with Ukraine in undivided solidarity.
Our hearts go out to the people of Ukraine, we grieve with them their heart-breaking losses and suffering, and we are deeply afflicted by the war crimes committed by Putin’s regime and other Russian-led military, paramilitary, and self-organised armed units. It is with dread and horror that we watch the massacres and atrocities being carried out by Russia in Ukraine. Targeting civilians and the mistreatment of prisoners in violation of the Geneva Convention constitute war crimes. Any and all incidents of this kind should be fully investigated and all those responsible, across the chain of command, should be held accountable by competent courts, including the International Criminal Court. Special attention should be given to cases of rape and other forms of sexual violence, which can constitute a war crime, a crime against humanity, or a constitutive act with respect to genocide, as noted in the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1820.
Putin’s regime throughout the last decades has continued its systematic efforts of establishing political and economic influence over Eastern Partnership countries and countries that had historic or cultural ties with Russia, inhibiting these countries' path towards democracy, and attempting to politically destabilize the region. This includes the 30-year military presence in Transnistria, a territory of a sovereign state – the Republic of Moldova, the separatist movements in South Ossetia and Abkhazia, the military conflict with Georgia in 2008 as well as the military aggression against Ukraine in the past and annexation of Crimea. These are not separate tragic episodes of bilateral relations, but a reflection of a general national foreign policy strategy. The absence of a firm-enough position of the international community enabled Russia’s foreign policy strategy and the aggression against Ukraine.
This is not only an attack on Ukraine’s territorial integrity, but a brutal attack on the rule of law, democracy and peace in Europe – the very foundations on which the European Union was built. Putin’s war of aggression attempts to destabilize Europe as well as the current geopolitical order, threatening the foundations of our international order, built on the values of human rights, democracy and peace. This poses one of the biggest threats to peace and security for all of us, including Russian people. The past weeks have shown that the UN as well as the OSCE have been restricted in their reactions, showing yet again the dire need for reform.
Putin’s aggression against Ukraine and the people of Ukraine is an aggression against all those who strive for democracy and freedom. The targeted disinformation campaign led by the Kremlin is part of the war tactics of the Russian regime. Putin’s war will continue to test the resolve, unity and solidarity of the European Union. As Europeans we stand together. United we will fight for an EU perspective for Ukraine, and for all those who are currently defending our common values.
As European Green Family we stand for the Common Security Principles, where peace is always the final goal and diplomacy remains a priority. All people have the right to human security: freedom from fear and freedom from want. Building trust between nations and peoples is fundamental to peaceful and sustainable human existence. Military response cannot be the only response to the threat of our security. A green feminist vision for the Common Foreign and Security Policy aims at defending our values by using foreign policy instruments comprehensively. Our inclusive concept of human security is based on our firm belief in multilateralism, international justice, rule of law and the protection of human rights. An intersectional feminist approach to societies and conflicts, needs to be based on international law and human rights; it addresses the vulnerabilities between and within different groups at risk, and aims at guaranteeing their individual rights.
In the light of the developments since February 2022, we stand for a broad strategic approach, including military and civilian, preventive and reactive, short term and long-term instruments working towards human security. We firmly believe that these values shall be implemented in any case of disputes between countries. If not mandated by the United Nations, we reject the use or the threat of using military power or intervention by any country on another sovereign state and the military occupation of a sovereign state. Our dependence on Russian oil and gas has led to a steep increase of energy prices while fuelling Putin’s war. The current situation is proving yet again that energy sovereignty is a question of security. As European Greens we are committed to ending fossil fuel dependency. Now even more than ever, we need to accelerate all our efforts to increase renewables, improve energy efficiency and strengthen energy saving - prioritizing a truly green, socially just transition for all, in Europe and globally. This includes the notion that renewables are our only long-term safe, clean and sustainable source of energy: They are our path towards a more sustainable, just and peaceful world.
As European Greens we strongly believe that now is the time to accelerate our efforts for a Green transition. Undermining attempts of climate and biodiversity protection right now in the name of food security is precisely the wrong way forward- further intensification of the agricultural industry is destroying our food base. A full-fledged, green reorientation of our agriculture and biodiversity policy is now more necessary than ever given the significant effect on food production and exports from Ukraine, resulting from the invasion. Russia’s war massively threatens the food situation across the globe, particularly hitting vulnerable countries in the Global South. The blocking of the exports of cereals, sunflower seed oil and other Ukrainian products, as well as the destruction of farmers’ fields, machinery and infrastructure, is going to afflict all those countries who rely on that agricultural produce, thus generating a second humanitarian crisis.
As of today, an estimate of 8 million Ukrainian residents have been internally displaced and more then 6.6 million have fled the country due to the war. The willingness of Moldova and all EU Member States, especially those bordering Ukraine, to shelter those in need has been unprecedented. As European Greens we stand in solidarity with all those who are fleeing war and persecution – no matter where they are from!
Therefore, we, the European Green Party, having peace as our main goal, firmly condemn all human rights violations and call for the following steps as essential in reducing Putin’s regime’s capability to continue its aggression against Ukraine and call for help in rebuilding Ukraine:
1. European countries should use all possible diplomatic and political means, as well as support international initiatives, in order to pressure Russia into unconditionally withdrawing its troops from the internationally recognised territory of Ukraine as well as breakaway regions from other states. We call on the United Nations and Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to redouble their efforts to bring about the end of hostilities.
2. EU Member States must quickly, fully and effectively implement all sanctions currently in place. As Putin’s escalation continues, targeted and hard-hitting sanctions must be brought to bear immediately.
3. All efforts for financial, economic and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine must be strengthened, with all governments playing their part, exhausting a multitude of measures. These are unprecedented times of an unprovoked war of aggression where we are witnessing breaches of international law and war crimes being committed, we thus see the necessity for Ukraine to continue to receive military support quickly to be able to defend itself against Russian attacks.
4. At the same time, it is necessary for all actors involved to plan and coordinate long-term support with the overall goal to foster as well as implement a peace building process with all its complex, multi-faceted dimensions. This surely involves the necessary financial support for the reconstruction of Ukrainian infrastructure and war damages, as well as for victim assistance and environmental remediation.
5. The European Union and its Member States must heavily bolster all efforts to ensure energy security for all European residents. It is high time to massively accelerate the expansion of renewables, while boosting energy efficiency and saving. The fossil phase-out and the energy transition must be accelerated at all levels. All efforts must be made to stop Europe’s dependence on fossil fuels now. We call for an embargo on all imports of fossil fuels from Russia as soon as it is humanly possible to implement mitigation measures, including consumption reduction.
6. At the same time, the European Union must work towards a common solidarity mechanism to address the rising energy prices, especially for those threatened by poverty. We especially call on those countries which have gained surplus profit through (partially) state owned energy companies that are profiting from high energy prices to redirect those profits to mitigate social impacts of energy poverty throughout Europe, invest into renewable energy and to support Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction. In addition, we call on countries to tax surplus profits of private companies and redirect them to the same causes.
7. All our efforts to ensure safe passage, prevent human trafficking and establish the best possible structures to welcome people fleeing from Putin’s inhumane war continues to be of the highest priority. EU funds should be allocated to those who welcome refugees, while particular attention needs to be given to marginalised, especially vulnerable groups, such as women, LGBTIQ*, Romani, BIPOC, ethnic minorities and disabled people. They have a right to get shelter without discrimination. We expect from European countries to show the same hospitality towards all war refugees.
8. We as European Greens are dedicated towards ending hunger worldwide and thus call for an immediate support to all those vulnerable countries that will be hit by the food crisis generated by Russia's war. In addition, we demand an increase in funding of the WFP, and concrete actions to end speculations on food as well as helping Ukraine to export its agriculture surplus. On a broader perspective, we believe that the EU must work towards the realization of a long term sustainable and resilient agricultural system across the world by, among other things, converting the land used for the production of feed to the production of food, and supporting small-scale farmers.
9. It is central that the European Union and the international community as a whole stand united in the face of the war crimes the world has witnessed. We demand that all necessary support is granted to investigate them and bring the perpetrators to justice.
10. The people of Ukraine fight for the future of a democratic, free Ukraine. It is on the EU institutions to work towards granting EU candidate status to Ukraine and intensify its efforts to proceed with the integration into the EU single market as soon as possible. In addition, efforts should also be made to support Georgia and Moldova to be granted EU candidate status.
11. Putin’s cruel war against the Ukrainian people is also triggering resistance in Russia. Despite severe repression, Russian citizens are protesting for a democratic Russia and against violence and destruction in their sovereign neighbouring country. We will continue to work together and support, financially and otherwise, independent civil society, human rights defenders, lawyers, journalists, bloggers and anti-war activists in Russia and Belarus.
12. Combat disinformation, undue influence and cyber-attacks sponsored by the Kremlin across the EU by taking all possible measures, including by strengthening the independence of journalism, the appropriate regulation of social media and the transparency of political finance and lobbying activities in Member States.
We, European Greens call on all European governments to show the due unity and determination in the name of rebuilding peace and justice.
