The European Commission’s proposal was adopted with 518 out of 635 votes. 56 MEPs voted against, 61 abstained. “A historic moment,” Roberta Metsola said after the vote result. “We are giving a clear message that Russia as an aggressor will have to pay for the destructions in Ukraine.”
The support in the European Parliament is broad, as it became clear earlier during the debate on Tuesday. MEPs from the center-right EPP, the social democrats, the liberal Renew, Die Grünen and the right-wing conservative ECR are in vor of quickly making the billions available to war-stricken Ukraine. According to these political groups, it is more than right that the loan is covered by the interest on the loan of frozen Russian assets. Agressor Russia must pay, that was their central message.
Loan is part of broader plan to help Ukraine, MEPs from the right-wing Patriots for Europe (PvE) and the Group of Europe of Sovereign Nations (ESN) strongly opposed the loan. “The loan is a step in further escalation. This is how you drive Europe into the war”, said Austrian Petra Steger (PvE). “It’s theft and that can lead to countermeasures”, also warned the Bulgarian Rada Laykova (ESN). European Commissioner Didier Reynders (Justice) welcomes the support and smooth consideration of the European Commission’s proposal, which was submitted a month ago. “Russia will have to pay the gelag. It is important that Russia pays for the damage it has caused and is still doing.”
Last week, EU government leaders already approved the European Commission’s proposal for financial support. The loan is part of a broader plan of more than 44 billion euros to help Ukraine, on which the G7 previously reached an agreement.