The Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament welcomed the swift proposal put forward by the European Commission for the fast and flexible use of cohesion funds in EU regions providing assistance to people fleeing the war in Ukraine. According to the S&D Group, our regions, and in particular border regions, are the first to welcome refugees fleeing Ukraine and cannot be left unsupported in providing vulnerable people a safe home.

One month ago, Vladimir Putin gave Russian troops the order to invade a sovereign, peaceful, neighbouring country. Europe reacted in unity and, in unprecedented solidarity, is imposing massive sanctions on Russia. But Putin's war against Ukraine is also a wake up call for all of us: the EU must play a bigger role in order to provide European citizens with more security in the challenging and dangerous world we live in and to be a global actor for peace.

Following the criminal Russian invasion against Ukraine, the need for an urgent EU action plan to ensure food security inside and outside the EU has become even more evident. We welcome today's vote by the EU Parliament that goes in this direction and call on the EU Commission to reinforce our food chain system without lowering quality or health safety standards.

S&D coordinator in the agriculture committee, Clara Aguilera MEP, commented:

Bei Finanzhilfe für Moldawien nachlegen

Helmut Scholz, Europaabgeordneter von DIE LINKE im Europäischen Parlament, erklärt zur heutigen Abstimmung über die Makrofinanzhilfe für die Republik Moldau:

The Socialists and Democrats welcome the European Commission’s decision for a mandatory minimum 80% gas storage level at the beginning of this winter and increasing it to 90% as of 2023. The S&D Group find this percentage as the absolute minimum and urges the member states not to lower it.

Mohammed Chahim MEP, S&D vice-president responsible for the energy aspects of the Green Deal, said: