March 2022 Session
March 2022
The European Greens Stand with Ukraine
Unprecedented times for 21st century Europe. On 24 February, Russia invaded Ukraine – a democratic European country. As the European Greens, we have condemned Putin’s war. This invasion is an outright attack on Ukraine’s sovereignty and a flagrant violation of international law. It is not only an attack on Ukraine’s territorial integrity, but a brutal assault on the rule of law, democracy, and peace in Europe – the foundations on which the European Union was built in the aftermath of World War II.
Respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty includes respect for its right to freely choose its alliances. Ukraine has a right to freedom and democracy and has acted swiftly in coordination with other parties and the European Union to protect these rights. The European Green family stands in support of Ukraine and its people. We have joined gatherings calling for peace in Ukraine and will continue to do so.
Read our statement.
Film: 23 March at 00:00 CEST – 24 March at 23:59 CEST
Maidan
Maidan chronicles the civil uprising against the regime of president Yanukovych which took place in Kiev (Ukraine) in the winter of 2013-2014. The film follows the progress of the revolution: from peaceful rallies, half a million strong, in Maidan Square, to bloody street battles between protestors and riot police. Maidan is a portrait of an awakening nation rediscovering its identity.
Director Sergei Loznitsa rises above current political issues and looks at the nature of the popular uprising as a social, cultural and philosophical phenomenon. A mix of enthusiasm, heroic struggle, terror, courage, aspiration, people’s solidarity, folk culture, passion and self-sacrifice, Maidan is a cinematic canvas combining classical filmmaking style with the urgency of documentary.
Director: Sergei Loznitsa
Country: Ukraine
Duration: 131 min
Access: All the European countries but France (under negotiation)
Subtitles: German, French, Spanish, Italian, Russian and English
Debate: 24 March at 19:30 CEST
Following the screening of Maidan, we hosted a debate on Thursday 24 March at 19:30 CET. The goal was to explore the recent past to better understand the political and social demands as well as the struggles of the people of Ukraine over the last decade. We were joined by journalists, activists and politicians who have been working and reporting from Ukraine. During the session, they shared their unique perspectives and discussed Russia’s post-Soviet ambitions to control its former states, the Maidan Revolution, and how the events of 2013 and 2014 are connected to today’s war.
We were delighted to engage in a thought-provoking conversation with Sofia Oliynyk, Coordinator of the “Democracy Support and Human Security” Programme at the Heinrich Boell Foundation; Nastya Stanko, Broadcast Journalist for Hromadske; Roeland Termote, Reporter for De Standaard specialising in Central Europe; and Dr Sam Murray, Music Lecturer and EGP Amendments Committee Member, acting as Moderator.
At the end of the debate, we watched the empowering and energetic artistic spot featuring Pretty Loud, the first Roma Girl Band from Serbia. They proudly blend rap and hip-hop vocal styles with ancestral Roma music, and contemporary and urban movement with traditional dance. Through their lyrics and writing they talk about their everyday challenges and hopes as well as more complex topics such as race, representation, and social justice.
- Artistic spot:
Pretty Loud are the first Roma Girl Band from Serbia. They proudly blend rap and hip-hop vocal styles with ancestral Roma music, and contemporary and urban movement with traditional dance.
Through their lyrics and writing they talk about their everyday challenges and hopes as well as more complex topics such as race, representation, and social justice.
- More information
