Brussels, 03/07/2012 (Agence Europe) - On 3 July, Elmar Brok MEP (EPP, Germany) called on the European Commission to reconsider its plan to amend the visa facilitation agreement it reached with Ukraine in 2006. Over the next few days, the Commission must in effect formally reach a decision on whether or not it will give the green light to the next phase of the agreement, which will allow more Ukrainian citizens to go to the EU with visas. The next stage will consist of a liberalisation system, but has not yet been granted to Ukraine. Brok considers that the Commission should demand a clear commitment from the Ukrainian authorities on respecting the rule of law and democratic values (in an allusion to the situation regarding the former prime minister, Yulia Tymoshenko). On 3 July, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) also found the Ukrainian authorities guilty of having breached the procedural rights of a former minister of Tymoshenko. The ECHR will also be examining the case of the former prime minister on 28 August.
Brok believes that the Commission should try and ensure that no endorsement or sign of encouragement be given to the current Ukrainian government until the general elections planned at the end of October have taken place. Asked about this subject on Tuesday afternoon, the spokesperson for the commissioner responsible for this remit, Cecilia Malmström, explained that this was not about amending an agreement that was already in force and that “no link” should be made with the situation regarding the former political leader. Michele Cercone explained that this stage was “purely procedural” and, above all, aimed to provide further benefits to Ukrainian citizens, as well as to consolidate mutual contact between the EU and Ukraine. (SP/transl.fl)