The EU’s reaction to the Russian invasion of Ukraine: legal challenges and the role of the European Parliament

The purpose of this essay is to examine the role of the European Parliament in shaping the European Union’s response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Never has the EU faced such a military escalation and crisis at its borders, with consequences that have been the disbursement of significant financial resources. Considering that the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) falls in the domain of the EU`s intergovernmental institutions, this essay aims to provide a comprehensive account of the European Parliament’s role. From its initial support for the strongest restrictive measures, the European Parliament has advocated for a more supranational response to the military crisis. By analysing the tools at its disposal within the CFSP framework, the European Parliament has mobilised new financial resources to address the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. Notably, in 2024 the Ukraine Facility was adopted building on the methodological continuity established by the Recovery and Resilience Facility. This initiative has led to €50 billion in loans and grants in support of Ukraine. The Facility has not only led to a new increase in the EU’s own resources but has also triggered a new enlargement process with clear geopolitical objectives.