Below is my personal account of a work done during the five-year term of the European Parliament. This insight may be useful for the ones interested in having a closer look at and better understanding of a role the European Parliament plays in the area of EU’s external policy for the Eastern neighbourhood countries in particular. It does not pretend to be a fully accurate account, it merely represents my own perspective of events as unfolded with the European Parliament.

Beginning

In Autumn 2019, the beginning of our journey was marked by a series of a newly-established forum events to gather the like-minded Brussels’ bubble friends for an ambitious Eastern Partnership policy and for a promotion of the European Russia strategy. Both tracks were of critical importance for promoting a broader democracy agenda in our neighbourhood.

Euronest in Tbilisi

Andrius Kubilius was elected as the co-President of the Euronest and led the European Parliament delegation. The EU enlargement was on hold, so we had to start with incentives for the reform agenda and picked up the policy differentiation approach for EU associated countries and Armenia within the Trio Plus strategy. This approach was endorsed in December 2019 at the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly meeting in Tbilisi. It has formulated a message to the EU institutions and suggested a new policy cycle for the trio plus with a framework up until 2030. In June 2020, the Euronest bureau asked the leaders at the Eastern Partnership videoconference to establish a trio plus strategy as a new flagship initiative for the next decade. These elements will be taken up in the European Parliament report on new enlargement strategy.

Transformation strategy

As for Russia, this country was tired of the Putin’s system and the people of Russia were expressing their aspiration to live in a normal European country. Success of Ukraine was key to realize that positive transformation is possible in Russia too. This strategy was discussed in the first meeting of Friends of European Russia forum in the beginning of 2020. It was taken and further developed in the European Parliament report on Russia by a team of rapporteurs from major political group MEPs – Andrius Kubilius (EPP), Włodzimierz Cimoszewicz (SD), Bernard Guetta (Renew), Sergey Lagodinsky (Greens) and Anna Fotyga (ECR). The real problem at the moment was, there was no proper EU strategy for a democratic future of Russia.

New normal

The COVID-19 pandemics came in March 2020 and changed our working methods. The European Parliament embraced the online deliberations for its working bodies, which in many cases brought new opportunities to react quickly and reach out effectively to new audiences, including in the EU Eastern neighbourhood and Russia. The online webinars were effective in mobilizing new audiences in Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia to discuss the EU enlargement, as well as in Russia and Belarus to have a thorough deliberation on democracy perspectives in the whole region.

Rise of democratic Belarus

At the time of COVID-19 Belarus was going through a democracy revolution. MEPs at the friends of EU East neighbourhood forum webinars expressed their solidarity with the Belarusian people’s democracy aspirations and called for immediate sanctions on Lukashenka regime in Minsk. Andrius Kubilius, Sandra Kalniete, Anna Fotyga, Michael Gahler, Andrzej Halicki, Petras Austrevicius, Viola von Cramon, Miriam Lexmann, Radoslaw Sikorski, Robert Biedron, Juozas Olekas, and many others MEPs stood up for Belarus with their statements and coordinated action.

From July to August 2020, tens to hundreds of thousands of Belarusians hit the streets and squares in dozens of towns and cities in Belarus. They were bringing a new hope and demanding change. The leader of democratic coalition Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya has won the presidential elections of 9 August, the results of which were stolen by dictator Lukashenka who started systemic repressions of Belarusians and launched a Kremlin-type massive propaganda. Andrius Kubilius together with others in the statements of 18 June, 10 and 14 July, 10 and 12 August called for an inquiry into the crimes of Lukashenka and Belarusian authorities committed against the Belarusian people, new sanctions on regime in Minsk, transition of power and organizing free elections.

On 17 August 2020 the European Parliament groups made a common statement not recognizing Lukashenka as president and demanding the Russian Federation to back off from interfering in Belarus. On 19 August a similar appeal was made by Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya to the European Council. She was forcefully deported by Lukashenka regime from Belarus on 11 August and with a backing from MEPs was given a necessary support to perform her duties from Lithuania.

Navalny’s Russia policy

Few days later, on 20 August 2020, Alexei Navalny, who stood up together with the Belarusian people, was gravely poisoned on Putin’s orders and remained in coma for a few weeks. Both, the Kremlin in Russia and Lukashenka in Belarus saw the people as their enemy.

On 17 September 2020, the European Parliament in its resolution called upon the EU to review the so-called ‘five guiding principles’, stand by the side of the people of Russia and isolate internationally the Kremlin regime of Russia. The EU institutions were tasked to prepare an EU strategy for future relations with a democratic Russia. This was also reiterated in the European Parliament report on Russia which followed a year later.

Policy of engagement

On 18 September 2020 the European Parliament demanded the EU institutions to engage in a policy dialogue with the democratic representatives of Belarus led by Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya. The parliament noted that she is considered by Belarusian people as the president-elect of Belarus and urged the EU to prepare a comprehensive review of EU policy towards Belarus that supports the democracy aspirations of its people. The parliament also asked for a Marshall plan together with international donors to support democratic Belarus’ economy.

Few days later, on 21 September 2020 Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya is in Brussels on her first visit to the EU. She is received by European Parliament President Mr Sassoli and in the Council. Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman David McAllister together with Andrius Kubilius accompanied her at the arrival to the European Parliament. Ms Tsikhanouskaya was accepted as the leader of Belarus and she was opening an international tour of capitals.

On 9 October 2020, EU adopted a first block of sanctions against the Lukashenka regime in Belarus. In October 2020, former Lithuanian defence minister, MEP Ms Jukneviciene addressed enforcement authorities and armed forces of Belarus to stand on the right side by the people of Belarus. On 16 October, the European Parliament began joint committee hearings on international crimes committed by Lukashenka regime in Belarus. Legal measures for international justice and universal jurisdiction were proposed as the repressions in Belarus have reached a systemic massive scale. The European Parliament awards the Sakharov prize to the democracy movement in Belarus which stood against the Lukashenka regime.

Belarus strategy

In November 2020, Andrius Kubilius puts forward suggestions for EU five action plan on Belarus: international agreement for democracy in Belarus, policy dialogue with democratic forces, international tribunal for Lukashenka, Marshall Plan for democratic Belarus and a joint EU road map with the office for democratic Belarus to be established in Brussels. On 24 November 2020, European Parliament demanded an international investigation into the crimes of Lukashenka regime and called for a high-level mission on Belarus.

Russia strategy

On 27 November 2020 the Foreign Affairs Committee held a debate with democratic forces of Russia represented by Navalny, Kara-Murza, Yashin, Milov and others. Europe had to have a genuine policy of democracy support in Russia and the European Parliament sets the course for its report on Russia to be worked out by an initiative of the standing rapporteur Andrius Kubilius.

Navalny, after his partial recovery returns to Russia on 17 January 2021 and is immediately arrested at the airport. This triggered massive protests and major towns of Russia have spoken out. At that time more than 30 000 Belarusians have been already detained. Detentions in Russia have reached thousands in a matter of days. On 2 February 2021, Andrius Kubilius issues a statement and calls upon international community to stand by the people of Russia for a democratic future of Russia. This is followed by a series of webinars organized together with the Russian civil society on a democracy perspective for Russia.

Working for EU enlargement

During the course of these events Andrius Kubilius launched a webinar discussion with MEPs on parliamentary elections in the Trio plus countries, which is another opportunity for their reforms and anchoring of the European integration success in the Eastern Partnership region. Within the EU enlargement track Andrius Kubilius initiated a discussion in March 2021 with Brussels think-tanks, the CEPS in particular, about granting of the European perspective to the Trio flagship initiative countries in same manner as it was granted to the Western Balkan countries.

On 20 April 2021, Euronest Parliamentary Assembly meets in Brussels, however European Parliament groups in the left spectrum were still cautious regarding granting a European perspective to the trio counties and voted against it. As a new step, Ms Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya was invited by the co-chairs Mr Kubilius and Ms Botchorishvili to the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly as an equal party among other Eastern Partnership participants. She led a delegation representing Belarus at the Euronest meetings.

Lukashenka is desperate

On 23 May 2021, dictator Lukashenka orders Belarusian Air Forces to hijack the Ryanair flight that originated from Athens and was bound for Vilnius with 171 passengers on board. European Parliament called it an act of state terrorism, demanded EU sanctions and an international process to hold Lukashenka accountable. On 21 June EU adopted a new package of sanctions linked with mass repressions and the flight hijacking in Belarus.

As Lukashenka regime plunged into terrorism, Andrius Kubilius on 1 July called upon the EU to maintain contacts with democratic Belarus within the Eastern Partnership perspective and give a seat to democratic forces.

Work with democratic Belarus

Belarusian democracy representatives office got an accreditation in Vilnius on 5 July 2021. The democratic Belarus mission was opened in Brussels a year later, on 14 October 2022. In June 2023, a new consultative group between the EU and Belarusian democratic forces was launched in Brussels. Lukashenka was desperate to get at least some legitimacy and his attempt to weaponize migration at the EU borders ended in a total fiasco. On 24 November 2021, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya gave her first plenary address at the European Parliament.

On 10 December 2021, Euronest bureau sends a message to the Eastern Partnership Summit asking to grant the European Perspective to the trio of EU association countries and invited the EU members to have democratic Belarus representatives invited to attend the Summit.

EU-Russia policy

On 10 May 2021, European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee began hearings on Russia as part of EU-Russia report preparations. Andrius Kubilius as a standing rapporteur presented the draft report on EU-Russia relations that proposed an EU strategy to implement the democratic perspective for Russia.

European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee adopts EU-Russia report in June 2021, and passes it on to the plenary. The report was adopted in the plenary on 16 September 2021 and it set the tone for EU policy to work on a democracy perspective for Russia and against the Kremlin. On 28 October 2021, European Parliament awards the 2021 Sakharov Prize to Alexei Navalny. On 8 December 2021, standing and shadow rapporteurs on Russia made an address to the Russian people underlining that future of democratic Russia is in Europe. On 16 December 2021, European Parliament invited the European Commission and the EEAS to produce a comprehensive report on the living memory of political terror in the Soviet Union.

Putin invades Ukraine

Andrius Kubilius condemns the warmongering and military manoeuvring at Belarus and Russian borders with Ukraine on 7 February 2022. This is a direct threat to the Belarusian statehood too. On 12 February 2022, the Unity March took place in Kyiv with many Ukrainian blue-yellow and Belarusian white-red-white flags.

On 24 February 2022, the Russian Federation launches a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. On 27 February antiwar rallies started in Saint Petersburg and Moscow. Up to 2000 people were detained overnight. Same day, Ms Tsikhanouskaya calls upon Belarusians to stand against the occupation and the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine.

Ukraine’s EU application

Ukraine fills an EU membership application on 28 February 2022. Few days later, on 1 March 2022, European Parliament calls upon the EU to grant the candidate status for Ukraine. MEPs Gahler and Kubilius are heavily involved in the negotiations.

On 22 March 2022, Andrius Kubilius launches a parliamentary network “United for Ukraine” to support Ukraine’s defense and European path. On 1 April 2022, Roberta Metsola pays a visit to Kyiv and meets there President Zelensky. On 3 April, the Kremlin’s war crimes in Bucha, Irpin, Hostomel, Makariv, Borodyanka were revealed.

Sanctions on Russian oil and gas

On 9 March 2022, a group of MEPs led by Andrius Kubilius call for an EU embargo on oil and gas imports from the Russian Federation and on 7 April 2022, the European Parliament endorses this call in its resolution after an amending proposal was made by a cross-party group of MEPs.

Visit to Kyiv

On 8 April 2022, during its first visit to Kyiv, the United for Ukraine network signs a founding declaration with Speaker Stefanchuk. Same day, the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pays a visit to Kyiv too and brings to President Zelensky an EU membership questionnaire. On 8 May 2022, Andrius Kubilius in his article on European Pravda proposes an EU strategy for accession and economic recovery of Ukraine.

Candidate status for Ukraine

Ukraine in wartime managed outstandingly well to mobilise its resources to begin the EU accession process. On 23 June 2022, European Council recognised the European perspective of Ukraine and granted the status of candidate country to Ukraine. The EU officials noted however that Ukraine will be included in the Enlargement report only in 2023. Our position was that an interim report of the European Commission could speed up the preparations for an opening of the accession negotiations.

New enlargement strategy

New geopolitical context also required the mobilisation of EU institutional capacities. And EU reponded well. On 14 September 2022, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in State of the Union address called for a new enlargement strategy, which must be supported with necessary EU resources, policy reforms and institutions.

European Parliament adopted a report on the new EU strategy for enlargement on 23 November 2022. Andrius Kubilius as a shadow rapporteur has represented the EPP in the negotiations. The report proposed a political deadline for the next EU enlargement which should be achieved within the current decade until 2030. It also called for the use of qualified majority voting during the negotiations and for appointing of EU negotiators with a broad mandate to steer this process forward.

On 2 February 2023, European Parliament demands the EU to open accession negotiations with Ukraine and asks Commission to prepare a report in Spring 2023 to make it possible. President Zelensky addresses the European Parliament on 9 February 2023. On 12 December 2022, European Parliament awards the 2022 Sakharov Prize to the people of Ukraine.

True face of the Kremlin

European Parliament recognised the Russian Federation as a state sponsor of terrorism on 23 November 2022 and demanded an isolation of the Kremlin regime. Andrius Kubilius as a standing rapporteur was involved in group negotiations. In a similar manner, on 19 January 2023, European Parliament adopts a resolution demanding the EU to take a lead in establishing a special tribunal for the crime of Putin’s military aggression against Ukraine. This was fallowed-up on 21 April 2023 when the European Parliament demanded the EU to look into a systemic nature of domestic repressions in Russia that can be qualified as crimes against humanity committed by the Kremlin regime in Russia.

Eastern Partnership revisited

Russian Federation’s war of aggression made the EU to rethink its policy in the Eastern neighbourhood. On 16 February 2023, European Parliament adopted three resolutions on Ukraine, Navalny and Georgia, and held a debate on Belarus. The leading message was that victory of Ukraine will open the door to democratic victories in Russia and Belarus, and in the whole EU Eastern neighbourhood. This was followed-up on 15 March 2023 in European Parliament’s resolution on Belarus that opened an EU perspective for a multi-sector policy engagement with democratic Belarus.

Work with democratic Russia

Kremlin’s terrorising war made also the EU to rethink its policy with Russia. It was clear the EU had to mobilise and engage with the Russian people too to stop this war. On 5 June 2023, European Parliament hosts the Brussels Dialogue conference with more than 200 representatives of the Russian democratic forces, co-organised by standing and shadow rapporteurs on Russia. This format was endorsed further on 28 November 2023, when the Antiwar Initiatives Platform together with EU institutions have organised in Brussels the congress with the Russian civil society representatives which led to the announcement of the Peace Manifesto. It is worth noting that the Ukrainian civil society representatives have also attended the congress.

Ukraine’s NATO opportunity

Besides EU accession, Ukraine had to modernise its army in line with NATO standards, however for Europe to stop the Kremlin’s war and for Ukraine to have full security guarantees, she has to be a member of NATO.

On 15 June 2023, European Parliament in its resolution calls on NATO to invite Ukraine to join the alliance. Prior to this, on 9 May 2023 the EPP group under an initiative of Andrius Kubilius has adopted a policy paper on Ukraine’s accession to NATO, which says that Ukraine’s victory on the battlefield and its accession to NATO will pave the way for democracy in Russia and sustainable peace on the European continent. The NATO Summit in Vilnius on 11 July 2023 has set up a fast-track for NATO membership, but was short of giving an invitation.

EU enlargement agenda

The EU enlargement progressed in a cruising speed. European Commission President called it to be central to completion of the EU in her State of the Union speech on 13 September 2023. The EU has a chance to repeat a success of the Big Bang enlargement 20 years ago.

In the same light, on 17 October 2023, the Armenian Prime Minister in his plenary address at the European Parliament has made it clear that Armenia is ready for stronger economic and political relations with the EU as far as possible.

On 8 November 2023, Foreign Affairs Committee had hearings on Enlargement reports first time ever with the Western Balkan countries and Eastern Partnership countries with European Perspective – Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia. The EU enlargement agenda is now fully set. On 28 November the United for Ukraine network together with think-tank and NGO community organised a high-level advocacy conference at the European Parliament on Ukraine’s European integration agenda and called for opening of accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova.

This call was reinforced further in the European Parliament resolution of 13 December that demanded to convene first EU accession intergovernmental conferences with Ukraine and Moldova. Finally, the European Council on 15 December 2023 decided to open the accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova. Consequently. on 13 March 2024, European Parliament has supported granting of European perspective to Armenia in its resolution on Armenia’s closer ties with the EU.

Russia is not Putin

On 16 February 2024, Alexei Navalny was murdered on Putin’s orders. Two weeks later, Yulia Navalnaya gives a speech at the European Parliament saying “in this fight you have reliable allies. There are tens of millions Russians who are against war, against Putin, against the evil he brings. We must not persecute them, on the contrary, you must work with them, with us. Putin must answer for what he has done with my country. Putin must answer for what he has done to a neighbouring peaceful country. And Putin must answer for everything he has done to Alexei. My husband will never see what a beautiful Russia of the future will look like. But we must see it. And I will do my best to make his dream come through. The evil will fall and the beautiful future will come.”

On 29 February 2024, European Parliament stated that the murder of Alexei Navalny is part of systemic repressions of civil society in Russia, which can also be constituted as a crime against humanity. In the following resolution of 25 April 2023, European Parliament urged not to recognize the outcome of the so-called Russian Federation’s presidential election and Mr Putin as legitimate president. The European Parliament’s Foreign Policy Committee coordinators however decided to postpone until the next term the second report on the future of EU-Russia relations.

Victory plan for democracy

On 21 March 2024, Euronest Parliamentary Assembly had is last annual meeting before the end of a current parliamentary term. The parliamentary assembly called for an adoption of EU Plan for Victory of Ukraine, welcomed the landmark decisions to open accession negotiations with Ukraine and urged to adopt the negotiating frameworks to hold the intergovernmental conferences, reiterated that the Eastern Partnership needs a new design, welcomed the European aspirations of Armenian people and supported a European perspective for democratic Belarus.

On 18 April 2023, the EPP group under the mentorship of Andrius Kubilius has adopted an EU blueprint plan for the victory of Ukraine, which says that EU needs urgently to ramp up its defence industry and increase substantially a collective commitment to finance the military needs of Ukraine’s defence.

EU-Belarus relations

After Lukashenka, Belarus and its people’s future remains with the EU. This is a main theme of EU relations with democratic Belarus. On 3 May 2024, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola met with leader of democratic Belarus Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and signed a Letter of Intent on enhancing relations between the European Parliament and the democratic forces and civil society of Belarus.

Georgia: to be continued

European Parliament in the last session under a current term supported the European aspirations of Georgian people, condemned the actions of pro-Kremlin ruling party and asked to sanction Georgia’s oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili. Georgia belongs to the European family and its people stood up against the pro-Kremlin government to defend European future. The Kremlin’s plan is doomed because Georgians are determined for the success of their country.