Brussels, 26/02/2013 (Agence Europe) - On 25-26 February, several political groups at the European Parliament (EPP, S&D, ECR and the Greens/EFA) called on Ukraine to take concrete measures to sign the association agreement during the Vilnius summit next November. Speaking on behalf of the informal EP-Ukraine liaison group, Pawel Zalewski from Poland said that, “2013 is a crucial year for Ukraine's European integration”. He welcomed the results of the summit on 25 February (EUROPE 10793), which he said, “mark the resumption of political dialogue at the highest level”.
Libor Roucek (S&D, Czech Republic) called on the two parties to, “take advantage of the current impetus” to ensure that the association agreement and the free trade agreement, “historically important documents that will set Ukraine on an irreversible path towards European integration”, are signed during the Vilnius Summit. He added that, “this is an opportunity that neither the Ukraine nor the EU should miss”.
His ECR colleague, Pawel Kowal, from Poland, the president of the Ukrainian delegation at the European Parliament, explained that the Vilnius Summit was a realistic date for signing the agreement but warned that, “if we miss this opportunity, there won't be another one for many years” and explained that Ukraine had to make an appropriate effort to fulfil its obligations. He stated that, “the summit conclusions confirm once again that Ukraine's European choice can become a reality and Ukraine could soon be anchored in the EU”.
Speaking on behalf of the EPP, Jacek Protasiewicz, also from Poland, said that, “the common declaration adopted and the confirmation by President Yanokovitch of the pro-European vector of Ukrainian foreign policy must now be backed up by concrete action”. Werner Schulz from the Greens/EFA affirmed that, “Ukraine's political leadership must now demonstrate its willingness to implement the necessary reforms”.
In addition to the measures requested from the EU in terms of selective justice, the elections and the association agenda, both Protasiewicz and the vice president of the Greens/EFA, Rebecca Harms from Germany, highlighted the conditions affecting freedom of the press in Ukraine. Harms said that she wanted the reforms to ensure, “full respect and protection of all fundamental freedoms, particularly the freedom of expression and freedom of the press, which should be allowed to do their job in complete independence and without suffering any undue pressure on them”. She said that the rule of law was deteriorating in the country and that in these conditions, “the EU obviously cannot conclude an association agreement with Ukraine”.
EU must act in energy arena
Both Roucek and Schulz called on the EU to help the Ukraine in the energy field. Roucek stressed that, “in addition to supporting the reform process in Ukraine, the EU should, particularly, step up cooperation and assistance in the energy sector, on the basis of the 2009 Memorandum”. Schulz added that the, “EU should help Ukraine become less dependent on Russia through energy cooperation and support for infrastructure modernisation”. He highlighted, moreover, the need to make progress in the area of visas, which was also emphasised by Pawel Zalewski. (CG/trans/fl)