European Parliament delegation to visit Ukraine

Foreign Affairs Committee and Security and Defence Subcommittee MEPs will travel to Ukraine from 30 January to 2 February to gather information on the current crisis.

A high-level delegation of nine MEPs, led by the Foreign Affairs Committee and the Security and Defence Subcommittee Chairs David McAllister (EPP, DE) and Nathalie Loiseau (Renew, FR), will carry out a fact-finding mission to Ukraine, departing this Sunday.

Ahead of the delegation visit, the two Chairs will hold a press briefing on Thursday.

When: 17.00 - 17.45 CET, Thursday, 27 January 2022

Where: Brussels, Anna Politkovskaya press room SPAAK 0A50 and live streaming

Journalists wishing to actively participate and ask questions remotely, please connect via Interactio.

You can also follow the press briefing live via Parliament’s webstreaming.

During the visit, from 30 January to 2 February, MEPs will observe the situation on the ground, and demonstrate the European Parliament’s solidarity with the Ukrainian people and its opposition to any steps by Russia to further escalate the crisis.

The visit is part of large-scale diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the situation and avoid the disastrous consequences of a possible war in Ukraine.

The European Parliament delegation will meet with the Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, and has requested meetings with the President, the Prime Minister, the Foreign Affairs and Defence Ministers and the deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic integration. They will also hold talks with the Secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council and Members of the Verkhova Rada’s Committees on Foreign Affairs, on Ukraine’s Integration into the European Union, and on Security and Defence.

During the visit, there will be two press points; details to follow.

Background

The current crisis has been provoked by an ongoing Russian military build-up in and around Ukraine, as well as the destabilising use of hybrid attacks, including disinformation and cyber-attacks, on Ukrainian government institutions.

In a resolution on Ukraine, adopted in December, the European Parliament expressed its support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders.

EU Digital COVID Certificate to enter Parliament

As of 3 November, all people entering Parliament’s buildings have to present a valid EU Digital COVID Certificate, including journalists. The EU Digital COVID Certificate proves that a person is either fully vaccinated, has immunity after having recovered from COVID-19 or can show a recent negative PCR test result. Both digital and paper formats of the EU Digital COVID Certificate or of a recognised equivalent certificate will be accepted.

Proof of a negative result of a PCR test carried out within the last 48 hours in Belgium, Luxembourg or France will also be accepted. Please note that the existing precautionary measures, including the compulsory wearing of a medical face mask and temperature checks at entrances, remain in place. More information here.

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