The Council decided on 14 March to prolong the restrictive measures targeting those responsible for undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine for another six months, until 15 September 2025. The existing restrictive measures provide for travel restrictions for natural persons, the freezing of assets, and a ban on making funds or other […]
EU adopts 16th sanctions package against Russia
The Commission welcomes the Council’s adoption of the 16th Russia sanctions package. As Russia’s illegal aggression enters its fourth year, this package is designed to further ramp up pressure on the aggressor and is part of the EU’s unwavering commitment to a just and lasting peace for Ukraine. The 16th package targets systemically important sectors of the […]
Parliament to display EU and Ukrainian flags in support of Ukraine
EU and Ukrainian flags will be flown at the European Parliament’s three sites from Sunday 23 February to Tuesday 25 February, marking three years since Russia’s invasion. Russia launched its unprovoked, unjustified and illegal attack against Ukraine on 24 February 2022. Special set-ups of both EU and Ukraine flags will be flown in front of […]
Commission steps up support for Ukraine’s energy security
In Kyiv today, the European Commission has offered a new support package to Ukraine to secure its energy system and enable its full integration within the European energy market. This package will allow for the full coupling of Ukraine’s electricity market with the EU by early 2027, together with Moldova, as well as further integration in the EU […]
Munich Security Conference 2025: President von der Leyen calls for a “more pragmatic, more focused, more determined Europe”
President Ursula von der Leyen attended the annual Munich Security Conference and gave a keynote speech in which she described a world with competing visions and a more transactional approach to global affairs. She stressed that Europe must change in order to thrive in this new reality. As the Commission’s actions have shown in the first weeks of its new mandate, the EU […]
Ruslan Stefanchuk: “Peace in Ukraine can only be achieved if we stay strong”
On Tuesday, the Chair of the Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada, Ruslan Stefanchuk, addressed a formal sitting of the European Parliament in Strasbourg. Welcoming Mr Stefanchuk to the hemicycle, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said: “I am proud that this Parliament has stood with Ukraine from the very first moment – united, unwavering, and resolute. We will […]
4.3 million under temporary protection in December 2024
On 31 December 2024, nearly 4.3 million non-EU citizens who fled Ukraine as a consequence of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine had temporary protection status in the EU. The EU countries hosting the highest number of beneficiaries of temporary protection from Ukraine were Germany (1 161 450 people; 27.3% of the EU total), Poland (991 630; 23.3%) and […]
Two Ukrainian brothers arrested on suspicion of leading a criminal gang
On 19 November 2024, law enforcement across Europe cracked down on a criminal network led by two Ukrainian brothers. The action day, which follows raids conducted in October 2024, saw the arrest of several suspects and the seizure of various criminal assets. In total, the operation, which took place over several months, led to the […]
Council extends economic restrictive measures against Russia for another six months
The Council today extended EU restrictive measures for a further six months, until 31 July 2025, in the light of continued actions by the Russian Federation destabilising the situation in Ukraine. These economic measures, which were first adopted in 2014, have been significantly extended since February 2022 in response to Russia’s unprovoked, unjustified and […]