Proud of my former colleagues in @Europarl_EN. @RenewEurope are right: now is the time for Europe, all of free Europe, to act. EU and UK must act in concert in support of Ukraine. @ALDEParty @LibDems

As Trump holds a cage fight at the White House, Russia launched a massive attack on Ukraine, striking the historic Kyiv-Pechersk monastery, a UNESCO world heritage site. Trump promised to end this war on day 1: appeasing dictators never leads to peace, only more war.

Carney: The new world order will be built from Europe. Canada is the most European of non-European countries, and we are transforming our cooperation with the EU ... In a more dangerous and divided world, Canada has chosen to build and work in partnership with Europe.

Today, the European Union took a major step forward. All member states agreed to open the first accession negotiations cluster with Ukraine and Moldova. At the first intergovernmental conference on Monday, we will open the cluster on fundamentals; the backbone of the accession process. It covers the core values and principles on which the EU is built, from the rule of law to strong democratic institutions. This is a recognition of the determination, courage and hard work shown by both countries in advancing reforms, even in the face of immense challenges. And a signal that the EU’s offer of peace, stability and opportunity is unmatchable. Enlargement is a strategic choice. By bringing our nations closer together, we strengthen peace, security and prosperity across our continent. In a world marked by growing uncertainty, a larger European Union is in our common interest. Enlargement remains one of the EU’s greatest success stories and our best investment in our shared future.

Trump said Iran has no anti-aircraft and no radar left …so this could not have happened.

I've #justdonated to this Crowdfunding Page on @JustGiving. Here's the link if you'd like to help them raise more. It's inspiring stuff! justgiving.com/crowdfunding/…

🇪🇺 HISTORIC MOMENT: THE EUROPEAN UNION SETS A DATE FOR UKRAINE'S ACCESSION TALKS! 🇺🇦🤝 It's official: the door to Europe is opening even wider for Ukraine. The European Union has finally agreed on a specific date to begin formal negotiations on Ukraine’s membership. Ukraine has come a long way, and the final stretch toward becoming a full member of the European family now lies ahead. This is recognition of the country's efforts, resilience, and commitment to its European path. The process is now moving from declarations to practical negotiations. Are you ready to see Ukraine join the European Union? 🇺🇦🇪🇺

Russia’s massive attack on Ukraine last night shows the Kremlin’s brutality and disregard for both human life and peace negotiations. Terror against civilians is not strength. It's despair. We stand firmly with Ukraine, with further support on the way to reinforce its air defence systems.

It's Europe Day! Today, we celebrate all that Europe stands for. And we celebrate all of us, the citizens of Europe. Because all together, we are Europe. Happy Europe Day!

For the first time in 12 years, the EU flag is back at the Hungarian parliament. Thank you @magyarpeterMP ! 🇪🇺

I'll just leave this here

Canada turned the Niagara Falls blue for the European Union! 🇪🇺🇨🇦 They also played Ode to Joy, the EU's anthem, an early celebration of Europe Day which is celebrated tomorrow. Europe & Canada, we are family ❤️

Today is Europe Day. And Ukraine is marking it not formally or through sloganeering, but fully aware that we are already an inseparable part of the European family. We are defending Ukraine, our independence, our future – and in doing so, we in Ukraine are defending our Europe. A Europe of which Ukraine has been and will remain a part. From the first days of the full-scale war until today, Europe has stood with Ukraine. And this is not charity – it is a choice made by Europeans: to stand on the same side as the brave and the strong – the Ukrainians who are fighting today for peace and true protection against tyranny, not only for themselves, but for the entire continent. And we will inevitably defend our state, our people, and our right to freely choose our future – a future in Europe. Glory to Ukraine!

La Unión Europea es la segunda mayor potencia económica y la región socialmente más avanzada del mundo. Es también nuestro hogar y nuestro futuro. Nuestro privilegio y nuestra responsabilidad. Feliz día de Europa a todas y todos.

C’est la journée de l’Europe. L’Europe est aujourd’hui une évidence qui pourtant n’allait pas de soi. Elle est un héritage arraché aux ruines, un trésor façonné par le courage de celles et ceux qui ont refusé que le nationalisme et la guerre soient notre destin. Face aux crises, l’Europe n’a cessé de nous protéger et d’agir vite, fort et en solidarité quand l'Histoire frappe à notre porte. Dans la pandémie, dans les turbulences économiques, face à la menace russe et à la guerre en Ukraine sur le sol de notre Europe, nous résistons, toujours. L’Europe est bien plus que les bénéfices de son grand marché unique : elle soutient notre agriculture, notre jeunesse et nos universités, notre recherche, nos territoires et nos emplois, notre diversité culturelle, nos exportations, nos frontières, notre sécurité et notre indépendance dans un monde de périls. Bien sûr, l’Europe peut et doit encore s’améliorer. Il y a tant à faire encore. Mais nous devons être fiers d’être Européens. Fiers de bâtir le continent le plus écologique, le plus exigeant sur le numérique, celui qui investit dans l’innovation et la technologie pour produire en Europe et sortir de nos dépendances stratégiques, celui qui défend partout les valeurs démocratiques et humanistes. Depuis 2017, j’y consacre mon énergie, pour les Françaises et les Français, parce qu’une partie significative de notre avenir et de notre souveraineté se joue là : l’Europe respecte et renforce nos nations. À chaque génération revient le devoir immense de faire vivre l’Europe, l’aimer, la transformer, pour qu’elle soit forte, puissante, indépendante, qu’elle nous serve tous et qu'elle protège ce que nous avons en partage : une certaine idée de l'Homme et une capacité à agir pour assurer nos choix libres et souverains. C’est encore plus important dans un monde qui aujourd’hui vacille où notre trésor de paix, d’unité et de souveraineté européenne a une valeur inestimable. En ce 9 mai, en Européen convaincu, déterminé et fier, je dis très simplement : Vive notre Europe !

Marco Rubio Has Discovered That NATO Exists Marco Rubio stood at a podium recently and said, with the confidence of a man who has never read anything, that if NATO can’t be used to “project to other contingencies,” then “we have a problem.” He is correct. There is a problem. The problem is Marco Rubio. Article 5 of the NATO treaty has existed since 1949. It says, in language so simple a golden retriever could grasp it, that an attack on one member is an attack on all. That’s it. That’s the whole thing. You don’t need a law degree. You barely need literacy. What Article 5 does not say, and what no page of the NATO founding treaty has ever suggested, is that 31 sovereign European nations signed up to serve as a strategic parking lot for American military adventures on the other side of the planet. Denmark did not join a defensive alliance in 1949 so that, 75 years later, it could help Washington bomb a country it got bored looking at. NATO is a shield. Not a sword. Not a taxi service. Not a valet for whatever impulsive geopolitical tantrum is trending in Washington this quarter. The Americans have now spent 15 months confused by this distinction. Their finest minds, their cabinet secretaries, their very best people, staring at the treaty like a dog watching television. Ears up. Deeply engaged. Understanding absolutely nothing. The good news is that Europe has finally understood something too: you cannot outsource your survival to people who find a single sentence intellectually challenging. Gandalv / @Microinteracti1

Unia Europejska jest niedoskonała, irytująca, nudna, ale niczego lepszego w naszej historii nie wymyśliliśmy. Czas pokoju, dobrobytu, wolności, demokracji i solidarności między narodami przez wieki walczącymi ze sobą to cud. Niech trwa jak najdłużej.

Good Morning 🌞 ! It’s polling day in Leckhampton and across Cheltenham. Vote for hardworking local resident Julia! Vote YES to the Leckhampton Neighbourhood Plan! Polls open til 10pm. Remember to take Photo ID.

Our Polish ally speaks the truth.

Congratulations to Westminster Council for their acceptance of Banksy’s brilliant statue near Pall Mall. Let’s hope it stays — a welcome note of calmness and humour at a time of growing extremism.