Russia's attack on Ukraine on 24 February launched a war of aggression unprecedented in Europe since World War II. The EU decided to impose sweeping sanctions on Russia, support Ukraine financially and with military equipment, and agreed to host thousands of Ukrainian refugees fleeing over the border into Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania, introducing temporary protection for persons fleeing the war.
Three weeks after the first Russian military units started their offensive, it is becoming clear that all EU policies will be fundamentally changed by this conflict. Almost overnight the EU is forced to bolster its defense dimension, including by further deepening relations with NATO. European citizens welcomed refugees in their thousands, also thanks to EU funding and the activation of special rules. Europe's energy supply will have to rapidly decarbonise and wean itself off Russian gas, oil and coal. Supply chains are interrupted, as are deliveries of agricultural products and food from both Russia as well as Ukraine. The war also casts a shadow over the nascent economic recovery just as Europe's economies were emerging from the pandemic slump. Finally, enlargement policy may face a new chapter with Moldova and Ukraine submitting their application for candidate status in the shadow of Russian aggression.
This event will bring together experts to debate how exactly the war impacts the EU and its policies in the short and long term, and what the EU can do to buffer against negative shocks.

SPEAKERS:
• David McALLISTER, MEP, Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, European Parliament
• Jacob Funk KIRKEGAARD, Senior Fellow, German Marshall Fund (GMF) and Peterson Institute (PIIE)
• Daniela SCHWARZER, Executive Director, Europe and Eurasia, Open Society Foundations; Fellow, Harvard Kennedy School
• Richard TIBBELS, Head of Division, Eastern Partnership/Bilateral Relations, European External Action Service (EEAS)
• Suzana ANGHEL, Policy Analyst, European Council Oversight Unit, EPRS
• Lasse BOEHM, Head, Economic Policies Unit, Members’ Research Service, EPRS
• Elena LAZAROU, Acting Head, External Policies Unit, Members’ Research Service, EPRS


RELATED EPRS PUBLICATIONS:
• Topical Digest: Russia's war on Ukraine: Background, EPRS, 2022: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/EPRS/TD_Russia_war_Ukraine_final.pdf
• Outlook for the European Council meeting of 24-25 March 2022, EPRS, 2022: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/ATAG/2022/699485/EPRS_ATA(2022)699485_EN.pdf
• Outcome of the special European Council meeting of 24 February 2022, EPRS, 2022: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document/EPRS_BRI(2022)699488
• Outcome of the meetings of EU leaders on 17-18 February 2022, EPRS, 2022: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/ATAG/2022/699485/EPRS_ATA(2022)699485_EN.pdf
• Outcome of the informal European Council in Versailles on 10-11 March 2022, EPRS, 2022: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document/EPRS_BRI(2022)699496
• The European Council as COVID-19 crisis manager: A comparison with previous crises, EPRS, 2020: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document/EPRS_BRI(2020)642822
• The European Council and crisis management, EPRS, 2016: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document/EPRS_IDA(2016)573283