Marju Lauristin, on behalf of the S&D Group. – Madam President, dear colleagues and Ukrainian friends, today we are gathering here at the time when the sad anniversary of the third year of occupation of Crimea falls. At the same time, Russian officials and Russian media are cynically celebrating the occupation of Crimea as a national victory. They even plan to shift the elections in Russia to celebrate the occupation of Crimea.

It is very important we show that all Europeans recognise that this is annexation, that it is illegal and that, on 16 December last year, the United Nations General Assembly officially condemned the occupation and called for it not to be recognised. For those who are not firm in support of this, we have to remind them that it is not the first time in history. From the history of the Baltic countries we know how important this politics of non-recognition is, and how important international support is for occupied countries. I call on us to be firm to support the organisations who are fighting for human rights ...

(The President cut off the speaker)