On Wednesday 12 October for the first time, the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, hosted the meeting of Women Speakers of EU Parliaments and of Ukraine, which was an opportunity for her to plead for adopting a firm stance towards Russia and for more support for Ukrainian refugees in EU Member States.
In her opening address to the Speakers of the Czech, Cypriot, Latvian, Lithuanian, Polish, Slovenian and Ukrainian parliaments, who had gathered to discuss how to provide more practical help, Ms Metsola said: “We remain firm in our support for Ukraine and will continue to provide the political, humanitarian and military support necessary to preserve Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity”.
She said she was immensely proud that “our countries, our regions, our local authorities and our citizens have opened up their borders, their homes and their hearts to Ukrainians fleeing Russia’s brutal invasion” and that the European Parliament had been at the forefront of practical support by hosting the Ukrainian civil society centre on its premises - a centre which the meeting participants were able to visit.
“We can do more. We need to do more. When I met with First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska at the European Parliament last month, she expressed her concern over the disproportionate impact of the war on Ukrainian women and children”, Ms Metsola said.
Believing that “this forum has the unique potential to initiate means of support to our Ukrainian friends”, Ms Metsola cited initiatives that could be strengthened: - provide greater protection against trafficking and the exploitation of displaced children and youth; - ensure psychological support in the Ukrainian language; - better meet the needs of displaced children who have disabilities; - provide scholarships to students; - boost investment in quality jobs and social support for parents and young people.
The first meeting of women Speakers of Parliaments was held in Warsaw.
Speaking to a small group of journalists outside of the meeting, the President of the European Parliament expressed her desire for this meeting format to become a regular occurrence. She also had harsh words for Russia, saying she refused to “negotiate on Putin’s terms”. When asked by EUROPE if she feared a third world war, she replied, suspicious of Russia’s intentions: “What I definitely do no want is appeasement. Ukraine has to win the war. It’s now our end game”. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)