Brussels, 21/10/2010 (Agence Europe) - The EU is concerned by the “deterioration” in democracy, fundamental rights and human rights in Ukraine, a country with which it is negotiating an association agreement and a free trade zone. “We are concerned at consistent and wide-spread reports of deterioration in respect of fundamental freedoms and democratic principles in Ukraine. Particularly worrying are complaints related to freedom of the media, freedom of assembly and freedom of association”, Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Füle said addressing the European Parliament in Strasbourg. He was speaking on behalf of Catherine Ashton and therefore on behalf of all 27 member states, he explained. “Respect of these fundamental values is essential”, and they are “principles that cannot be compromised”, he said. Kiev's strategic aim (Ed: which for now is not shared by the EU) remains accession. Ukraine must make a considerable effort to come closer to this as “the pace and depth of our relationship will be determined by the full respect of these values” (individual freedoms, democracy and rule of law), the commissioner said.
The European Parliament will give its position later. Initially, it was planned that the European Parliament, also, should express its concern regarding Ukraine's failure to respect individual freedoms and democratic rights in Ukraine in a draft resolution for which adoption is scheduled for Thursday 21 October, in Strasbourg. Just a few minutes before the vote, at the request of the Socialist Group (S&D) and the Conservatives (ECR), MEPs decided to postpone the vote until the plenary sitting early November, in Brussels. The reason for this, called to mind by Hannes Swoboda (S&D, Austria), was that it would be better and “fairer” to await the EU-Ukraine ministerial meeting (on 26 October in Luxembourg) and the local elections in Ukraine (31 October) before taking a stance on Ukraine's internal situation. This argument was not shared by Michael Gahler (EPP, Germany) who considers that the EP is under an obligation to point out the deterioration in the country's democratic situation. “We must speak out and we must do it now”, he said albeit in vain as a large majority finally spoke out in favour of postponing the vote. In the draft resolution, the Ukrainian authorities were called upon to fully investigate all reports of infringements of rights and freedoms and to remedy any violations identified and to investigate the role of the Ukrainian Security Service with regard to interference in the democratic process. In the draft resolution, MEPs also deplored the fact that the rules governing the local ballot on 31 October this year remain vague and that the existing electoral law, as amended in August 2010, is regarded by OSCE/ODHIR as a “backward step compared to previous legislation”. (H.B./transl.jl)