Listen to the news

MEPs congratulate European transport and tour operators on their help to refugees from Ukraine, demand that Russia return the stolen planes and call on the EU to tighten sanctions against Russia, the EP's press office in Sofia said.

Everything on the topic:

The Russian invasion of Ukraine 5003

European transport operators offer Ukrainian citizens free travel by train, bus, ship or plane, and this is highly appreciated, according to a resolution on the impact of Russia's illegal war against Ukraine on the EU's transport and tourism sector, adopted with a show of hands. Thursday.

Transport is a strategic tool for the EU to ensure solidarity and support for Ukraine and its people, MEPs added.

They emphasize that the war in Ukraine has affected the EU transport sector by raising fuel prices and disrupting supply chains.

MEPs believe that EU transport operators with links to the Russian market should be supported, as they are shifting from Russia.

MEPs are concerned about the serious impact of the war on the aviation sector, deploring the fact that Russia, in clear violation of international civil aviation rules, has forced aircraft hired by foreign companies to re-register with the Russian registry. aircraft.

"Such theft cannot be tolerated," MEPs said, urging the immediate return of the planes to their rightful owners. 

The EP welcomes the sixth package of sanctions against Russia and the recovery package for Ukraine

The resolution also calls on the EU to further tighten sanctions against Russia's maritime sector and to refuse to allow ships that have docked in Russia en route to the EU to enter EU ports.

In addition, all ships wishing to call at an EU port should be banned from refueling in Russian ports, the text added.

The European Council's decision to drastically reduce funding for military mobility is a mistake that undermines European security, MEPs say.

They call on the Commission to find a solution to significantly increase the budget for military mobility under the Connecting Europe Facility.

The EU must help member states develop dual-use infrastructure and transport links within the EU, but also with the Western Balkans, Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine, MEPs added, calling for the trans-European transport network to be extended to Ukraine. and Moldova.

 MEPs also call on EU countries to support hotels and short-term rental services in the EU that accept Ukrainian refugees.

They want the Commission to set up an interim EU financial program to help travel companies that hire Ukrainian refugees.

The COVID-19 pandemic and the current war have shown the urgent need to establish an EU Tourism Agency and a European Crisis Management Mechanism to respond adequately and quickly to large-scale crises such as pandemics, wars, humanitarian crises and the impact on climate change, MEPs say

The Russian invasion of Ukraine

European Parliament

aircraft