Brussels, 27/10/2011 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 27 October the Council and the European Commission called for another meeting with Ukrainian President Yanukovych before the EU-Ukraine summit on 2 December. In a resolution adopted on 27 October, MEPs emphasised that this meeting would provide “an excellent opportunity for tackling serious concerns addressed to the Ukrainian government and re-establishing a constructive dialogue, which could help towards signing the association agreement, on the condition that significant progress is achieved on the remaining technical points and the main political obstacles”.
MEPs deplored the sentence meted out to Yulia Tymoshenko, the former prime minister of the country, and urged the Ukrainian authorities to ensure that a fair, transparent and impartial legal process is undertaken with regard to her appeal. MEPs are concerned that new charges may be levelled against her. According to MEPs, the fact that the sentence was not commuted put in danger the conclusion of the association agreement and its ratification. MEPs welcomed the conclusion of the far-reaching and comprehensive free trade agreement, which they consider as a way of providing a solid basis for the “possible” finalisation of negotiations on an association agreement. MEPs are concerned at signs of declining democratic freedoms and a possible co-opting of state institutions in furthering partisan objectives and political vengeance. They emphasise that enhancing the primacy of law and internal reform, including the credible fight against corruption, is essential if democracy in Ukraine is to be consolidated. The Parliament also calls on the Commission to support legal reform in Ukraine and envisage the possible setting up of a high-level advisory group to help the country. MEPs request that the Venice Commission and the OSCE recommendations on the Parliamentary election draft law be adopted and applied in a way that is appropriate, comprehensive and inclusive and that involves both the opposition and civil society. (CG/transl.fl)