Tale af Europa-Parlamentets formand

President of the European Council, Nicolas Sarkozy,
Heads of State and Government,
President of the Commission, José Manuel Durão Barroso,
High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solana,
Ministers,

There is no reason to play down the seriousness of the current situation: the escalation of the crisis in Georgia constitutes a threat to security on the European continent which is without parallel since the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Although it is clear that in launching military action on the South Ossetian town of Tskhinvali the President of Georgia made a serious mistake, there is no justification whatsoever for Russia's response.

By invading the territory of an independent and sovereign State, Russia has breached the principles of international law and, in particular, Article 2 of the United Nations Charter, in an irresponsible manner.

Russia’s subsequent decision, on 26 August 2008, to recognise the Georgian Caucasus provinces of Abkhazia and South Ossetia in defiance of international law will not only make a peaceful solution to the conflict more difficult to achieve, but is also posing a threat to the overall stability of the world order.

On the basis of our system of laws and values this is unacceptable both to the international community and to the European Union. The territorial integrity of Georgia cannot be called into question by means of unilateral decisions taken in Moscow.

The situation calls for an appropriate response from the European Union; and the European Union's role must not be confined to simply that of an observer or a mediator.
Accordingly, on behalf of the European Parliament I should like to thank the President of the European Council, Nicolas Sarkozy, and the French Council Presidency for convening this special Summit. Likewise on behalf of the European Parliament, I should also like to express my gratitude to you, Mr President of the Council, for your diplomacy in Moscow and Tbilisi in securing agreement on the six-point plan signed by Georgia and Russia.

The conflict in Georgia represents a major challenge for the European Union and, at the same time, a decisive test of our political cohesiveness.

Today's meeting of the European Council is of great importance for the credibility of the European Union and for the future security of our continent.

Today, the European Union must honour once again the commitments given under Article 11 of the EU Treaty to defend peace, as well as our shared values, and to strengthen international security and cooperation. This European Council offers us an opportunity to demonstrate not only that the European Union is united, but also that it is determined not to accept unilateral changes to the map of Europe brought about by means of violence.

The fact that Russia has tried to justify its invasion by arguing that it was seeking to "protect Russian citizens" in South Ossetia and Abkhazia sets a dangerous precedent. The invoking by Moscow of peoples' right to self-determination, a right which Russia has been denying the Chechens, will certainly give other former Soviet Republics, such as Ukraine and Moldova, which have sizeable Russian minorities, cause for concern.

I was in Latvia a few days ago and the people there, like those in Estonia and Lithuania, remember only too well the tragic periods in their history which were marked by foreign rule, violence and terrorism.

We say to the European Union citizens in those countries: 'You are no longer alone! A threat to your country would constitute a threat to the European Union as a whole'.

If we fail to meet our joint responsibility today, then Russia might act in the same way towards other States.


xxx Conflict resolution and the establishment of peace xxx

The European Union must play a determined role in the work of securing a peaceful, lasting solution to the conflict in Georgia on the basis of the principles of international law; and must be prepared to support the United Nations and the OSCE on the ground.

The starting point for a peace settlement must be the territorial integrity and full sovereignty of Georgia. This must include the provinces of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

These principles of the 'sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognised borders', in keeping with Article 2 of the United Nations Charter, have been reiterated in all previous United Nations Security Council resolutions on the situation in Georgia - most recently in Resolution 1808 adopted on 15 April 2008 - and thus also endorsed by Russia. In that connection, the international community cannot accept buffer zones which have been established unilaterally and arbitrarily.

The European Parliament very rapidly sent an ad hoc delegation to Georgia. On 20 August 2008 the Chairwoman of that delegation, Marie-Anne Isler Beguin, presented her report in the presence of the French Minister for European Affairs, Jean-Pierre Jouyet, and the Georgian Foreign Minister, Eka Tkeshelashvili.

In that report, the European Parliament expresses its concern at the situation of the casualties of the war, at the breaches of humanitarian law which have occurred and at the fact that more than 150 000 people have been forced to leave their homes and flee the conflict.

From the European Parliament's standpoint, the priority is now that all parties should implement the six-point plan signed by Georgia and Russia on 12 August.

Point 5 of the plan requires Russian forces to 'withdraw to the positions they held before the outbreak of hostilities'. The 'additional security measures' which are permitted to Russia must be replaced with an agreed 'international mechanism' as soon as possible.

The European Union should support this by all appropriate means in order to help build stability and confidence. The appointment of an EU High Representative for Georgia could be considered.

The return of refugees and displaced persons and measures to foster reconciliation are among the main preconditions for a lasting peace. For this purpose, it is essential to carry out an independent international inquiry, which should also clarify the issue of war crimes.

At the same time, the European Union must provide the local population with the humanitarian aid it so vitally needs and determine as quickly as possible how, and with what resources, it can contribute to the reconstruction of the areas of Georgia which are affected. As part of the current negotiations on the budget for 2009, the European Parliament will shoulder its responsibilities and allocate the requisite appropriations for a large-scale aid operation for Georgia.

The European Union must also intensify its neighbourhood policy for the Caucasus republics, as well as for Ukraine and Moldova.

A greater European Union responsibility in the Black Sea region means, above all, strengthened political and economic cooperation with the goal of creating a 'European Economic Area Plus' and the creation of a free trade area. Adjustment of EU visa policy should be considered.


xxx Energy solidarity xxx

President of the European Council,
Heads of State and Government,

The European Union is a community based on solidarity: this means that attempts by a third country to exert pressure on one Member State affect the European Union as a whole. Should one European Union Member State be faced with a threat to cut off its energy supplies, all the other Union Member States would have a duty to support it.

Solidarity between the Member States in the energy sphere is a principle laid down in the Lisbon Treaty. For this reason as well, it is particularly important that the Lisbon Treaty should be ratified as quickly as possible. The European Parliament calls upon all Member States which have not yet ratified the Treaty to do so as soon as possible. The events in Georgia dramatically underline the necessity of the Lisbon Treaty.

We should reduce our dependence on third countries for energy supplies, and at all costs avoid one-sided dependencies. It is vital both to increase our energy efficiency and to promote a balanced energy mix by investing in all sectors in a suitably balanced manner.

Solidarity, as we as partners in the European Union should understand it, also implies that we should resolutely implement the European pipeline projects which have been decided.


xxx Relations with Russia xxx

The European Union must now speak to Russia with a single voice and act decisively: we must uphold our positions with determination and at the same time be prepared for dialogue.

Dialogue and cooperation with Russia must be based on shared values, in particular respect for human rights and the principles which govern dealings within the international community.

On this basis, we should maintain the aim of a Strategic Partnership with Russia. But our principles must be very clearly expressed in a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement.

Related to this, in the field of energy, we must insist that Russia honour its obligations in a legally binding manner.

We are convinced that Russia also sees its future as part of an open world economy and a community of States based on common basic rules and cooperation between partners, and is not seeking a return to self-imposed isolation, since the people of Russia themselves would be the first to suffer the effects of such a policy.

Relations based on partnership between the European Union and Russia are in our shared interest. Peace on our continent in the 21st century requires a strong and effective European Union, cooperating with a stable and hopefully also democratic Russia.

Today’s European Council offers the European Union a major opportunity to act in concert, to send a clear message to Russia by means of determination and solidarity and thus to make an effective contribution to stability and peace on the basis of the principles of international law.

Thank you for your attention.