16.6.2023
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
C 214/29 Wednesday 18 January 2023
L. whereas, at the direction of Vladimir Putin, the Government of the Russian Federation has continued to conduct acts of international terrorism against political opponents and sovereign states, which have culminated in its invasion and occupation of Ukraine since 2014;
M. whereas the global consequences of the Russian Federation’s unjustifiable invasion of Ukraine are compounded by the impact of the ongoing and unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, which originated in Wuhan, in the PRC; whereas the return of full-scale war to the European continent, economic instability and the Russian Federation’s deliberate instrumentalisation of energy volatility are resulting in immediate geopolitical uncertainty for citizens of the European Union, candidate Member States and prospective candidate Member States, as well as for partners around the world;
N. whereas achieving strategic autonomy requires the Union to be able to pursue all matters of strategic significance to the EU without undue reliance on the capabilities of third states and actors, including through the elimination of vulnerabilities that leave the Union open to internal division and enforced concessions to authoritarian actors; whereas achieving strategic autonomy will allow the Union to further enhance its external action from a basis of strength, more effectively pursue and project its values-based interests and strengthen its contribution to global multilateralism, the peaceful resolution of conflict and the development of democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights worldwide; whereas the EU will not be able to defend itself or be a credible actor without genuine investments in Member State defence; whereas despite the continued Russian aggression against Ukraine since 2014, the decision of NATO leaders to commit a minimum of 2 % of GDP to defence spending has only been implemented by a few allies who are Member States, in particular those on the Eastern flank; whereas meeting this threshold shows genuine will to strengthen European security and the EU’s position at the same time;
O. whereas the voluntary accession of European states to the EU remains the Union’s most successful foreign policy instrument; whereas on 23 June 2022, European leaders granted Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova candidate status for EU membership and recognised Georgia’s European perspective; whereas in 15 December 2022, the European Council granted Bosnia and Herzegovina candidate status for EU membership, and the Republic of Kosovo submitted its application for EU membership;
P. whereas the Union’s CFSP is guided by the values of democracy, the rule of law, the universality and indivisibility of human rights and fundamental freedoms, respect for human dignity, the principles of equality and solidarity and respect for the principles of the UN Charter and international law; whereas the Union’s values, as enshrined in Article 2, Article 3(5) and Article 21 TEU, are in its immediate interest; whereas autocratic pressure on these democratic values continues to mount, eroding checks on abuse of power, increasing the incidence and severity of human rights violations and constricting space for civil society, independent media and democratic opposition movements; whereas, according to Freedom House, 2021 was the 16th consecutive year of global democratic decline;
Q. whereas the effects of climate change are having increasingly severe impacts on different aspects of human life as well as on development opportunities, the worldwide geopolitical order and global stability; whereas those with fewer resources to adapt to climate change will be hardest hit by the impact of climate change; whereas EU foreign policy should focus more on promoting multilateral activities by cooperating on specific climate-related issues, building strategic partnerships and strengthening cooperation and interactions between state and non-state actors, including major contributors to global pollution;
R. whereas the rules-based international order, founded on international law and the institutions of multilateralism, is under ever-increasing risk, both from within and from outside; whereas autocratic states, working alone and through concerted action, attempt to undermine multilateral organisations and agencies as well as international humanitarian and human rights law, subvert this law’s meaning through co-optation, or circumvent or thwart its implementation, while promoting the further development of autocratic norms in the EU and in third countries, including through the use of diplomatic, economic or military incentives and coercion and through disinformation campaigns; whereas Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and its deliberate war crimes are an attack on the foundations of the multilateral rules-based global order;