Cooperation with Ukraine to ensure the protection of culture: statement by the Committee Chair Nela Riehl 

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Today, the Chair of the Culture and Education Committee and Ukraine’s Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications discussed EU-Ukraine cultural cooperation.

Following her meeting with the Ukrainian Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications, Mykola Tochytskyi, the chair of the Committee on Culture and Education Nela Riehl said:

“Russia’s war against Ukraine is not only a very brutal physical battle that has been raging for over two years, but has also seen ongoing attacks on Ukrainian society, undermining Ukraine’s identity and imposing Russia’s worldview.

From Russian fake news on Ukrainian social media, to the suppression of the Ukrainian language, and the destruction of cultural heritage sites – the cultural and social cohesion of Ukraine has been targeted.

The protection of tangible and intangible cultural heritage is essential to re-establishing stability in the war-torn region and to ensuring lasting security. The EU also has a responsibility in supporting Ukraine in its efforts to protect and reconstruct cultural artefacts, traditions and customs that can help strengthening social cohesion.

This is why the meeting with Mr Tochytskyi and his colleagues today is absolutely crucial in seeing how we can work together across borders to ensure the protection of Ukraine’s culture.”

Members of the Ukrainian delegation


Background

Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, Russian attacks have damaged nearly 500 cultural sites, according to UNESCO. In October 2022, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on cultural solidarity with Ukraine and a joint emergency response mechanism for cultural recovery in Europe, calling for strengthened support and solidarity towards the Ukrainian cultural ecosystem.

Parliament has been a strong supporter of Ukraine, condemning the aggression, imposing sanctions and stepping up its political, humanitarian, military and financial aid to Kyiv. Parliament also supports Ukraine’s efforts to join the EU and MEPs say Russia must compensate financially for the destruction it has caused in Ukraine, using Moscow’s confiscated state-owned assets.

In October 2024, Parliament approved a loan up to €35 billion to Ukraine, to be repaid with future revenues from frozen Russian assets. In a recent declaration by the European Parliament’s President and the political leaders, this legislature will be defined by the gradual integration of Ukraine into the Union.


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