On March 3, Kolping Youth Germany published a political statement on the war in Ukraine. Kolping Youth Europe translated this statement into English to support its dissemination.
“Kolping Youth Germany is appalled by the attack on Ukraine that is contrary to international law. What we see and what is reported makes us stunned and makes clear that extensive sanctions against Russia are necessary to show that war must not be a means to enforce political interests. Furthermore, Ukraine deserves our full solidarity and active support.1
For this reason, Kolping Youth Germany demands from the federal government of Germany, but also from the EU and NATO, united and active action against Russia and support for Ukraine. If necessary, national interests must be subordinated to the interests of Ukraine.
Kolping Youth Germany supports the sanctions adopted to date and demands the examination of further measures:
- We demand that the gas pipeline Nord Stream 2 will not be taken into operation in future. By taking the gas pipeline into operation, Germany would increase its dependency on Russia unnecessarily. The further operation of the Nord Stream 1 pipeline needs to be discussed openly from the perspectives of supply security and climate protection. Energy policy is an important component of European security policy.
- The exclusion of additional Russian banks from the SWIFT payment system should be examined. In case of doubt, Germany’s economic interests have to move into the background.
- We call to ban all ships under Russian flag from entering German ports and using German waterways, analogous to the regulations in the United Kingdom, and for a similar ban to be promoted within the EU.
- We support the EU’s foreign policy in not breaking off diplomatic relations with Russia completely. A solution to the conflict can only be found through negotiation. In this context, however, it needs to be stated that moving borders by acts of war is not an option.
- We demand to review the composition and structure of committees of the United Nations, especially the UN Security Council.
Kolping Youth Germany welcomes measures of the Federal Government and the European Union to support Ukraine. Ukraine deserves our full solidarity, also beyond this conflict:
- We especially support the decision of the European Union to provide Ukraine with 500 million Euros for humanitarian aid.
- We call for Ukraine’s European aspirations to be supported and for granting Ukraine the status of an “EU candidate country”.
- We demand to support Ukraine’s sovereign freedom of decision with regards to joining international organizations (NATO, OECD).
- We demand to support our EU and NATO partners at our external borders in the reception and distribution of refugees. We welcome the overwhelming willingness to help in Europe and advocate for a close coordination within the European Union to support refugees from Ukraine.”
The original German language statement can be downloaded here: https://www.kolpingjugend.de/fileadmin/user_upload/Presse_und_Medien/News/2022/03/03_2022_Positionierung_Bundesleitung_Ukraine.pdf
[1] See also Kolping International’s call for donations: https://www.kolping.net/en/donate/ukraine-help-for-people-in-need/?donationonline/prompt