“We commend the resilience and determination of the Ukrainian people and their leadership in resisting Russian aggression and defending their land.

“The discussion today was a timely update on the work of the Justice and Home Affairs community in the fight against impunity. Our work is essential to ensuring Russia is held accountable and crimes against Ukraine and its people do not go unpunished. We stand firm in our support of Ukraine.”

“Human dignity, equality and non-discrimination are core values of the EU, yet racism and related forms of hatred and discrimination remain prevalent across our societies. That has a terrible impact on the affected individuals, and a really harmful impact on our Union – shattering trust between communities, deepening societal divisions and damaging our sense of unity at a time when we need to stand together more than ever.

“I am pleased that we have today adopted Council Conclusions that reaffirm the Council’s collective commitment to protecting and upholding the fundamental rights of all. There is no strength without unity, and we need a collective approach to effectively confront this issue.”

“The importance of civil society and journalists in upholding democracy and the rule of law must be continually emphasised. They challenge and interrogate the integrity of public decision making and policy, promote accountability, and empower citizens by informing them, encouraging dialogue and giving a voice to public concerns. A threatened or restricted civil society and media fundamentally undermines democracy and fundamental rights, which are cornerstones of the European Union.”