Member states harshly condemned Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and reaffirmed solidarity with and readiness to help Ukraine, as well as to impose additional sanctions against Russia and Belarus, in cooperation with EU partners and candidate countries.
Metelko-Zgombić underscored strong support and solidarity of Croatia’s institutions and citizens, for whom distressing images from Ukraine recall the 1990s aggression against Croatia.
She stressed the importance of persistent international action, from the recently adopted UNGA resolution to the launching of an investigation by the International Criminal Court.
Member states underlined the importance of maintaining the EU’s unity and cooperating with the allies and international partners, as well as the need to strengthen the Union’s resilience and strategic sovereignty, including boosting energy independence and speeding up green transition.
The new realities and security threats that the EU is facing because of this conflict should be addressed with appropriately in its strategic documents, including the Strategic Compass. In that context, Metelko-Zgombić reflected on the internal and external destabilizing risks in the immediate neighbourhood, notably the vulnerability of the Western Balkans.
The participants expressed views on the future of the EU-Ukraine relations. Metelko-Zgombić underscored Croatia’s strong support for Ukraine’s European perspective. The implications of the aggression against Ukraine, which is affecting the security and stability of whole Europe, tie into the Conference on the Future of Europe. EC Vice-President Dubravka Šuica reflected on the activities of the Conference, which will present the citizens’ recommendation at the final event of 9 May 2022.
Ministers also exchanged views on the EU’s instruments for the protection of the rule of law and fundamental rights.
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