European Union

EU foreign ministers sought to publicly pressure Hungary on Monday (16 May) to lift its veto on a proposed oil embargo on Russia, with Lithuania saying the bloc was being "held hostage by one member state".

The Russian invasion of Ukraine is a threat to all Europe, particularly the Baltic. Sweden and Finland must join Nato to secure peace in the Baltic Sea, write the leaders of the EPP Nordic and Baltic delegations in European Parliament.

The EU and the US pledged on Monday to facilitate trade and investment in Ukraine in order to rebuild its economy. After a two-day summit in Paris, they also committed to securing global supply chains and countering Russian disinformation. "Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine has demonstrated the dangerous impact foreign information manipulation and interference…can have, in particular, on transparent and accessible information," they said in a joint statement.

EU greenhouse-gas emissions in the fourth quarter of 2021 increased by eight percent compared with the same period of 2020, due to the economic rebound after the Covid-19 crisis, the EU's statistical office, Eurostat, reported on Monday. Emissions increased in all EU member states and all economic sectors. But households were responsible for most emissions of greenhouse gases, followed by manufacturing and electricity supply, agriculture, and transportation.

In a policy document due to be adopted on Wednesday (18 May), the European Commission urges EU member states to step up preparations for a “full disruption of Russian gas supplies” by considering emergency measures like a temporary cap on gas prices.

Written by Marie Lecerf.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has forced millions of people, amongst which Ukrainian Roma, to seek shelter in neighbouring countries. Roma fleeing Ukraine often face discrimination, segregation, deprivation and prejudice.

Risky humanitarian situation for Ukraine’s Roma

According to United Nations (UN) Refugee Agency (UNHCR) estimates, as of 10 May 2022 more than 5.9 million people, amongst whom Roma, had fled Ukraine to neighbouring countries – mainly to Poland but also to Hungary, Moldova, Romania and Slovakia. Even before the start of the invasion, Ukraine’s Roma population was already considered the country’s most vulnerable minority group, and one which also faced a high level of discrimination.

Since the beginning of the conflict, the Council of Europe (CoE) has reported discriminatory treatments against Roma when fleeing Ukraine. According to civil society organisations and the media, Ukrainian Roma have been facing increasing difficulties along the evacuation route, at border crossing points and on arrival in Europe. Not only have they had to cope with racial discrimination and segregation in transportation, humanitarian assistance and accommodation, but also with food and water deprivation and terrible living conditions as a result of this treatment. Moreover, around 10-20 % of the estimated 400 000 Roma living in Ukraine lack the documents they need to acquire or attest their Ukrainian citizenship and to prove their residence status (around 30 000 Ukrainian Roma have no form of ID). Civil society organisations have voiced concerns that this could result in additional difficulties for Roma fleeing the war. Media reports confirm the above situation, saying that Roma are often denied access to neighbouring countries because they lack the documents to prove their residence status. While the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) has not observed incidents of discrimination or racism during its field visits, it is calling for vigilance.

International and EU response

UNHCR is working with partners and local organisations on the ground to reinforce vulnerability screening and referrals for people with specific needs, including Roma. The CoE, as well as humanitarian players and stakeholders, is stressing the need for safe and regular pathways to safety for all persons irrespective of their nationality, ethnicity and religion – including for stateless people and undocumented Roma people. The EU has stepped in to help civilians affected by the war in Ukraine with emergency aid programmes that cover some of their basic needs, and with operational guidelines on simplifying border controls for vulnerable groups at the EU borders. It has furthermore activated the Temporary Protection Directive, giving inter alia rights to a residence permit and to work. On 8 April, the Commission published a statement calling for the protection of Roma people fleeing Ukraine.

European Parliament position

Since the mid-1990s, Parliament has prioritised the fight against all forms of discrimination against Roma people. In a December 2021 resolution, Parliament stressed the need to focus on the situation of vulnerable groups at the Ukrainian border and in Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine. Parliament also recalled that when channelling its humanitarian aid, the EU must pay particular attention to vulnerable groups such as people with disabilities, minorities and other highly marginalised people. At its plenary session in April 2022, Parliament debated the situation of marginalised Roma communities in the EU with Commissioner Helena Dalli, highlighting the need for proper assistance to the Roma fleeing Ukraine.

Read this ‘at a glance’ on ‘Russia’s war on Ukraine: The situation of Roma people fleeing Ukraine‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.

According to European Commission data, there are more than six million new cases and over 1.8 million cardiovascular disease-related deaths in the EU. In this event report, EURACTIV will examine the different proposals patients and industry stakeholders suggest for Europe to face its "number one killer".

The pandemic should be seen as a wake-up call for EU policymakers to take a more focused approach toward cardiovascular diseases (CVD), Europe’s number one killer, as patients have already paid a heavy price due to COVID-19, stakeholders have warned.

Four EP committees will take stock on Tuesday of Ukraine's transport, food security, culture and humanitarian situation and needs after Russia’s illegal invasion.
Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development
Committee on Culture and Education
Committee on Petitions
Committee on Transport and Tourism

Source : © European Union, 2022 - EP

Four EP committees will take stock on Tuesday of Ukraine's transport, food security, culture and humanitarian situation and needs after Russia’s illegal invasion.
Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development
Committee on Culture and Education
Committee on Petitions
Committee on Transport and Tourism

Source : © European Union, 2022 - EP

As part of the plan to break away from Russian fossil fuels, due to be tabled on Wednesday (18 May), Europe needs new action on energy efficiency, energy savings and the renovation wave writes Ciarán Cuffe.

After Helsinki, Sweden's Social Democratic government is now also seeking to join Nato. Both the Finnish and Swedish parliaments will debate the issue today. Moscow has called the plans a "mistake" and threatened consequences. Concerns have also been voiced by Turkey, which as a Nato member must agree to the accession. Europe's press takes stock.

US Defense Secretary LLoyd Austin and his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu on Friday had their first conversation since the war began. The EU is also stepping up diplomatic efforts: leading politicians are visiting Kyiv and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron are pushing for a ceasefire as a basis for negotiations. Commentators voice doubts that these efforts will succeed.