Baltic States – CIS, EU – Baltic States, Legislation, Lithuania, Ukraine

According to liberal Austrevicius, the idea to establish an informal group was born from the need to unite as many members of the EP as possible for joint work.

Austrevicius said that Ukraine has many friends in Europe and their ranks increased in face of the Russian aggression. The objective is to help the people of Ukraine, and the informal group is a great platform to get a better perspective on problems, share ideas and contacts more freely. The group will maintain active ties with members of the Ukrainian Parliament and will seek to cooperate with non-governmental and other organisations operating in Ukraine.

The inaugural meeting of the group was attended by members of the Ukrainian Parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, and Refat Chubarov, Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People, who is banned from entering Russian annexed Crimea.

The group will seek to hold regular hearings at the EP about crimes and human rights violations committed by Russia in the occupied Ukrainian territories. Austrevicius hopes that information collected in hearings and its findings will sooner or later be transferred to the international court.

The politician welcomes the fact that Europe has started to better understand Russia's information war methods. Austrevicius said that the events in Ukraine have revealed particular threats. He hopes that work with Ukrainian colleagues, who have to deal with the Kremlin's propaganda, will help the West to finally open eyes.

Already 48 members of the EP have joined the Informal Group of Friends of European Ukraine which was initiated by Austrevicius. They represent 18 EU Member States and every main pro-European political group. Lithuanian MEPs also joined the group, these are: Antanas Guoga, Zigmantas Balcytis, Gabrielius Landsbergis, Vytautas Mazuronis and Bronis Rope.