By Selen Valentw Rasquinho and Ata Ufuk Seker
BRUSSELS (AA) – Speaking to MEPs, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday urged sustained support for war-torn Ukraine.
During the European Parliament General Assembly in Strasbourg, she expressed gratitude to member states for their unwavering backing of Ukraine, saying: "You strengthened Ukraine's resistance and kept hope alive."
On the EU leaders summit in Brussels this Thursday and Friday, von der Leyen emphasized that "Ukraine's fight goes beyond resisting the occupier; it is a battle for Europe as a whole."
She underscored the profound significance of Ukraine's ultimate victory and called for a decisive role from the European Union in supporting the nation's efforts.
Highlighting the positive evaluations found in the first enlargement report prepared by the EU Commission for Ukraine, she commended the country for already fulfilling 90% of its responsibilities, as it hopes for the EU to start its accession talks.
This, she said, is a testament to Ukraine's commitment to European values.
Stressing the challenges posed by the ongoing conflict and the Russian invasion, von der Leyen underlined the necessity for sustained financial support in addition to political backing.
She pointed to unforeseen events since the approval of the current EU budget in 2020, including an energy crisis, global food crisis, and the influx of millions fleeing Russian bombs, all of which have strained the existing budget.
Von der Leyen stated that the Russia-Ukraine war increased inflationary pressures in the global economy trying to recover from the pandemic, and added: "Now the deadliest war in decades has broken out in the Middle East. Not only Gaza, but the whole region needs more support from Europe."
She urged increased European support for the entire region, emphasizing that the current budget cannot adequately address these unforeseen challenges.
Von der Leyen acknowledged that the proposed changes in the budget, including the budget amendment package, aim to ensure stable financing for Ukraine over the next four years.
Additionally, she stressed the importance of appropriate financial support at the European level for migration issues and the need to promote clean technologies to enhance competitiveness.
With US support uncertain, and progress on the battlefield stalled, European support for Ukraine seems set to take on greater significance in the months to come.