On Wednesday 14 September in Strasbourg, during her annual State of the Union address, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, assured that “the European Union’s solidarity with Ukraine (would) remain unshakeable”.
Dressed, like many European Commissioners, in the colours of Ukraine, which are similar to those of Europe, Ms von der Leyen recalled that, to date, the EU, its Member States and its financial institutions had provided “more than €19 billion in financial aid”, not including military support. “And we are here for the long term”, she said, including providing “massive” resources to rebuild Ukraine in the face of Russia’s military invasion.
The Commission President delivered her speech alongside the First Lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska, with whom she announced that she would be travelling to Kyiv to discuss the reconstruction of the country with President Volodymyr Zelensky. She announced “€100 million” of aid for the reconstruction of schools in Ukraine, where 70 education facilities have been destroyed by the Russian army.
Following Ukraine’s connection to the European energy grid in March, the Commission wants the war-torn country to join the EU’s free-roaming telephone area. Importantly, she wants to promote smooth access for Ukrainian companies to the single market, and vice versa.
The European Parliament is expected to approve a new €5 billion macrofinancial assistance package on Thursday to help Ukraine meet its financial commitments in 2022 (see EUROPE 13018/9).
On Russia, Ms von der Leyen reaffirmed clearly that EU sanctions are “here to stay”. “It is time for us to show determination, not appeasement”, she insisted, not overlooking the challenge the EU is facing, especially in dealing with the energy crisis.
But, according to the Commission President, the “toughest” EU sanctions ever imposed in the world reach to the core of Russia’s productive capacities. Car production in Russia has fallen by 75% compared to the previous year and Aeroflot is having to ground planes due to a shortage of spare parts, she asserted.
Ms von der Leyen did not announce any new restrictive measures against Russia in her speech, however. (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)