Remarks by President Charles Michel

 

We are facing an extremely difficult situation. That's why it's so important to be extremely united. And we are united, together with all the Europea… Press material Wednesday 2 March 2022   ● European Council   02/03/2022 11:14 | Statements and remarks | Remarks by President Charles Michel after his meeting with Prime Minister of Poland Mateusz Morawiecki in Rzeszów   We are facing an extremely difficult situation. That's why it's so important to be extremely united. And we are united, together with all the European Union's member states. Together with our partners, our allies, and with partners from third countries. We are trying to develop a common action to build an international coalition, to protect international law, and the rules-based multilateral order. Second, we are able to act quickly together and to decide on tough sanctions with massive consequences for Russia. And let's be honest, it will have a cost for us. But it is a question of convictions, it is a question of democratic principles, it is a question of international law. The reason for my presence here this morning with you, dear Prime Minister, is to show our full European solidarity towards Poland, towards your team, and towards the people on the ground who are working to guarantee the hospitality of refugees. It is also to show that we are all together. That is why the European Commission took the decision a few hours ago to mobilise €500 million for humanitarian assistance. It is also important to see with my own eyes the situation on the ground. I would like to commend you, dear Prime Minister Mateusz, your team, and the Polish people for working so hard to guarantee safe passages for Ukrainians, for European citizens, and for citizens coming from third countries all around the world without any discrimination. It is very important to make our EU values clear. You gave a strong guarantee — and thank you for that — of zero discrimination. We are making sure that there are safe passages for all who would like to cross the borders. Finally, we know that the coming hours and days will be difficult. We must stick together. We must be on the same page to coordinate and to cooperate to defend our principles together. The current situation is extremely painful and difficult for the Ukrainians. More than ever, we must stand together with the Ukrainians. We must welcome them. We will host them, we will guarantee the dignity of the Ukrainian people, and we maintain all efforts to provide support to Ukraine — political support, financial support, and humanitarian support. This is our political and moral duty. Thank you.

Press material Wednesday 2 March 2022   ● Council of the EU   02/03/2022 11:20 | Press release | Presidency press release - Informal meeting of ministers responsible for cohesion policy   On 1 March 2022, in Rouen, the French Presidency of the Council of the EU held an informal ministerial meeting, bringing together: the 27 EU ministers responsible for cohesion policy; European Commissioner Elisa Ferreira; the President of the European Committee of the Regions, Apóstolos Tzitzikóstas; the Chair of the European Parliament Committee on Regional Development, Younous Omarjee; and the President of the Section for Economic and Monetary Union and Economic and Social Cohesion of the European Economic and Social Committee, Stefano Palmieri. The 27 Ministers responsible for cohesion reaffirmed their commitment to the cohesion policy, to respond to the emergency and allow all European Union regions to address long-term challenges.