FR l IT l ESHave you ever had the chance to walk through the streets of Kyiv, Lviv, Kharkiv, Odesa, and other Ukrainian cities? You don't feel out of place at all. You feel at home very quickly. Ukraine is a European country and Ukrainians are asking for official recognition of their aspiration to join the European Union.
We are citizens of the European Union, of Ukraine, and of other countries. Ukraine's membership in the European Union is a matter of course for us. We call on our fellow citizens of the European Union member countries to create a wave of support for the Ukrainian people and to encourage their heads of state and government to grant Ukraine the status of an official candidate country, a crucial step in the accession process. We call on the heads of state and government of the European Union to unite for Ukraine and on the MEPs to support this will.
Since 2014, Ukraine has paid dearly for its thirst for freedom and its faith in democracy and the European ideal. It is a creative, happy, and proud nation that is very attached to democracy, freedom, and the rule of law. Its people have kept the compass of their political representatives always in this direction. This spirit of freedom inspires respect and admiration in Europe. But the Kremlin fears its success, which would then give another example of successful emancipation on the Russian border. That is why Putin's army is invading and bombing the Ukrainian territory, hitting civilians, military, and infrastructure. Despite the attacks, despite the threats, Ukrainians want to join the European Union. They show us what it means to be European: to share values and history, and to be free to choose one's destiny.
The first step in the process of Ukraine's accession to the European Union is in the hands of the Heads of State and the Government of the Member States.
With the expression of support from each and every one of you, we will show them that the will of the Ukrainian people to link their future to the European Union is a hope shared with the citizens of all European countries.
The European aspirations of Ukraine will not fade away. Ukrainians are showing in this war inflicted by Putin, that they are fighting for their right to choose their destiny. They are asking European governments to make it clear that they want Ukraine to have a future in the European Union.
Many of us feel powerless in the face of this war. However, showing that European citizens are reaching out to Ukrainian citizens to move forward together towards a common future is a strong sign of support. Join us!
With this call, we want to tell the Ukrainians that we support them and that, despite the horrible acts committed by Vladimir Putin and his army, there will be a future. And, like them, we want this future to be free, European, and with us. Let us affirm that our destiny is common and let us officially recognize Ukraine as a candidate state for EU membership.
Many citizens, politicians, and artists from all over Europe already support the initiative. Among them:
Albu Comănescu Radu, researcher in European Studies, Babeș-Bolyai University of Cluj-Napoca (Romania); Alemanno Alberto, professor of law at HEC, Jean Monnet Chair in European Union Law (Italy); Ansip Andrus, MEP, former Prime Minister, former Vice-President of the European Commission, Reform Party (Estonia), Applebaum Anne, journalist (United States); Arend Christophe, MP, La République en Marche (France); Arjakovsky Antoine, co-director of the department of Political and Religious Research Collège des Bernardins (France); Baranowski Michal, director of the Poland Office of the German Marshall Fund (Poland); Blockmans Steven, director, Center for European Policy Studies (Belgium); Bodnar Adam, Polish jurist, human rights activist, former vice-president of the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights, former ombudsman for civil rights (Poland); Bolter Flora, co-director of the LGBT+ Observatory, Jean Jaurès Foundation (France); Boutiflat Dylan, consultant training engagement management, SSE leader (France); Castaignet Arnaud, senior fellow, Open Diplomacy (France); Cenusa Denis, researcher in political science (Moldova); Cohn-Bendit Daniel, former MEP (France/Germany); Colin Taylor Ian, former MP, Conservative Party (United Kingdom); Coynash Halya, Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group (Ukraine) da Empoli Giuliano, Director of the Volta think tank (Italy); Dallemagne Georges, Member of Parliament, President of the Belgium-Ukraine Friendship Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, Centre Démocrate Humaniste (Belgium); Davidzon Vladislav, Journalist, The Odessa Review, Fellow, Atlantic Council (Ukraine/United States/France); de Suremain Philippe, Former French Ambassador to Ukraine, Minister Plenipotentiary hors classe (France); des Gayets Maxime, President of the PS group in the Ile-de-France region (France); Desesquelle Daniel, journalist (France); Docherty-Hughes Martin, MP, Scottish National Party (United Kingdom); Dupuis Olivier, former MEP (Belgium); Eyal Jonathan, Associate Director RUSI (United Kingdom); Faure-Muntian Valéria, MP, President of the France-Ukraine Friendship Group of the National Assembly, La République en Marche (France); Forteza Paula, deputy, Ecology Democracy Solidarity Group (France); Friha Karim, comic book author (France); Garrigos Geneviève, councilor of Paris (France); Gelly-Perbellini Michel, First Deputy Federal Secretary, Socialist Party (France); Glogowski Aleksander, head of communication of the Socialist Party (France); Glucksmann Raphaël, MEP, Place Publique (France); Goncharov Leonid, entrepreneur (Ukraine/France) Gordadzé Thorniké, former Minister of European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Georgia, Senior Fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (Georgia/France); Gressel Gustav, Senior Policy Fellow, ECFR (Germany); Grošelj Klemen, MEP, Marjan Šarec List (Slovenia); Guetta Bernard, MEP, La République en Marche (France); Guetta Nathan, Senior Executive (USA); Guez Olivier, journalist, essayist and writer, Prix Renaudot (France); Guillaume Sylvie, Socialist Party MEP (France); Guillemain Quentin, city and community councilor (France); Habant Artur, foreign policy advisor, Polish Green Party (Poland); Haddad Benjamin, director of the Atlantic Council's European Center (France); Harms Rebecca, former co-chair of the Greens/European Free Alliance Group in the European Parliament (Germany); Hartwell A. Christopher, director of the International Management Institute and professor, ZHAW School of Law and Management (Switzerland); Havlicek Pavel, political scientist (Czech Republic); Hegedűs István, director of the Hungarian Europe Society (Hungary); Higginson Roger, senior civil servant (United Kingdom); Hornung Matthieu, official at the European Committee of the Regions (Belgium); Kahn Michèle, translator (France); Kaju Andreas, former advisor to the Prime Minister; Minister, co-founder of META Advisory (Estonia); Kalniete Sandra, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, MEP, Partija VIENOTĪBA (Latvia); Karpa Irena, writer, journalist and singer (Ukraine/France); Kenigsberg Arthur, President, Euro Créative (France); Klein Etienne, philosopher of science (France); Klossa Guillaume, founder of EuropaNova, former Sherpa at the European Council; Kobliakov Nicolai, president of Russia-Liberty (Russia); Kochenov Dimitry, professor at the CEU (Austria); Krekó Péter, Director, Political Capital Institute (Hungary); Kross Eerik-Niiles, MP, Isamaa (Estonia); Kubilius Andrius, MEP and former Prime Minister, Homeland Union - Lithuanian Christian Democrats (Lithuania); Kucharczyk Jacek, President of the Institute of Public Affairs (Poland); Kumoch Jakub, Secretary of State at the Chancellery of the Presidency of the Republic (Poland); Laakso Mikko, communicator, National Coalition Party (Finland); Le Quiniou Romain, general manager, Euro Créative (France), Levi Paolo, journalist (Italy); Lévy Bernard-Henri, philosopher (France); Levytsky Marco, journalist (Ukraine/Canada); Linkevičius Linas, former foreign minister, Social Democratic Labour Party (Lithuania); Lough John, associate fellow, Russia & Eurasia Programme Chatham House (UK); Lubkivsky Danylo, director of Kyiv Security Forum, former deputy prime minister (Ukraine); Lucas Edward, journalist (UK); Macaes Bruno, essayist and former minister of European affairs (Portugal); Matviyishyn Iryna, journalist (Ukraine); Mihkelson Marko, MP, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Reform Party (Estonia); Mis Jean-Michel, MP, La République en Marche (France); Morozova-Friha Lena, businesswoman (France/Ukraine); Moskalu Violeta, founder of Global Ukraine (Ukraine) Muzergues Thibault, essayist (France); Negrescu Victor, MEP, Social Democratic Party (Romania); Nonnenmacher Christophe, journalist, EU Talk (France); Normand Bertrand, filmmaker (France); O'Connell Evan, international civil servant and specialist in European affairs (France/Switzerland); Ogarkova Tetyana, journalist (Ukraine); Pazderka Josef, journalist and historian, editor-in-chief of Aktuálně. cz (Czech Republic); Pellerin-Carlin Thomas, researcher (France); Pellevoizin Benoît, marketing director (France); Person Pierre, deputy, La République en Marche (France); Petter Midttu Hans, independent analyst (Norway); Piotet Dominique, CEO, UNIT. City (France); Popovych Nataliia, co-founder Ukraine Crisis Media Centre (Ukraine); Przybylski Wojciech, editor-in-chief, Visegrad Insight (Poland); Rafowicz Emma, national delegate of the Young Socialists (France); Rang Adam, entrepreneur (Estonia); Richard-Molard Gabriel, doctor of European law, specialist in Franco-German relations (France); Roivas Taavi, former prime minister, Reform Party (Estonia); Romero-Michel Jean-Luc, deputy mayor of Paris in charge of human rights, integration and the fight against discrimination (France); Runberg Sylvain, scriptwriter (France); Sass Ragnar, entrepreneur, co-founder Pipedrive (Estonia); Schäffer Sebastian, political scientist (Austria); Serne Pierre, elected environmentalist (France); Shapochkina Anastasiya, president, Eastern Circles (Ukraine); Sherr James, senior fellow, Estonian Foreign Policy Institute (Estonia/UK); Shevchenko Inna, author and feminist activist (Ukraine); Sikorski Radosław, MEP, former foreign minister, Civic Platform (Poland); Simone Rodan-Benzaquen, director general Europe, American Jewish Council (France); Skóra Maria, political analyst (Germany/Poland); Stamboliyska Rayna, teacher at Sciences Po (France/Bulgaria); Tenzer Nicolas, director of the publication Desk Russie, teacher at Sciences Po (France); Terzi di Sant'Agata Giulio, former Minister of Foreign Affairs (Italy); Tessandier Axelle, author (France); Tocci Nathalie, director of the Institute of International Affairs (Italy); Toparslan Ergun, engineer (France); Umland Andreas, analyst, Stockholm Centre for Eastern European Studies (SCEEUS), The Swedish Institute of International Affairs (Sweden); Vacca Paul, writer (France); Valli Gabrielle, vice-president of Eastern Circles (France); Valtonen Elina, MP, National Coalition Party (Finland); van Hulten Michiel, former MEP (Netherlands); Védrine Olivier, professor (h. c. ) member of the Steering Committee of the Jean Monnet Association (France); Viart Mathilde (France); Villani Cédric, MP, Ecology Democracy Solidarity Group (France); Vike Freiberga Vaira, former President of the Republic (Latvia); Waszczykowski Witold, MEP, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Law and Justice (Poland); Wołczuk Kataryna, Centre for Russian, European and Eurasian Studies (CREES), University of Birmingham (UK); Yermolenko Volodymyr, Ukrainian philosopher, chief editor of UkraineWorld.org (Ukraine); Zolkina Maria, political analyst (Ukraine).
