Brussels, 16/01/2014 (Agence Europe) - On 16 January, the chair of the European Parliament's foreign affairs committee, Elmar Brok (EPP, Germany), announced that a delegation of 12 MEPs will visit Ukraine on 28-30 January. Brok stated that the delegation was due to meet members of the opposition, from the Maiden group, government representatives, representatives of the president, and representatives from civil society. “We must give a message of solidarity to the people who are risking their lives to defend the European future of their country”, said José Ignacio Salafranca (EPP, Spain). In the view of Bernd Posselt (EPP, Germany), “we are playing an important role in limiting the violence”.
The delegation is due “to hold a round table discussion if possible” with the two parties, said Libor Roucek (S&D, Czech Republic). “We know that the situation is not at all evident, and that there is mistrust. But the country doesn't have the choice. The parties must enter into dialogue and try to find a compromise, a consensus for working together”, he added.
2015 outlook and the elections. In the view of the MEPs, there is little likelihood of the situation changing or of the agreement being signed before 2015 - the year of the presidential and municipal elections in Ukraine. Stating that he was “almost certain that nothing will happen on our file before the elections”, Jacek Saryusz Wolski (EPP, Poland) recalled that “the change in power must come about through dialogue and through free elections”. The MEPs stressed the need for free, fair and peaceful elections. In the view of Charles Tannock (ECR, UK), there is hope that the 2015 elections might enable Ukraine to pick up on the European track.
The Parliament delegation, led by Brok, will include Salafranca, Saryusz-Wolski, Ana Gomes (S&D, Portugal), Marek Siwiec (S&D, Poland), Tonino Picula (S&D, Croatia), Johannes Cornelis van Baalen (ALDE, Netherlands), Werner Schulz (Greens, Germany), Pawel Kowal (ECR, Poland), Helmut Scholz (GUE/NGL, Germany), Jacek Olgierd Kurski (EFD, Poland) and Adrian Severin (non-attached, Romania). (CG/transl.fl)