Brussels, 26/02/2014 (Agence Europe) - During a debate in plenary at the European Parliament on Wednesday 26 February, various MEPs called for the European Union to supply financial aid to Ukraine as a matter of urgency, and many called for a donor conference to be arranged.
On behalf of the EPP, Ignacio Salafranca (Spain) said the European Union had to provide an urgent response to the request from Ukraine. The provisional Ukrainian prime minister says his country is on the brink of collapse and Salafranca said the EU should organise an international donor conference with the United States, Russia, Japan, Canada and the International Monetary Fund. The EU must not deal with this issue on its own, but needs to take a wider view, said Libor Roucek (S&D, the Czech Republic).
On behalf of the ALDE Group, Guy Verhofstadt (Belgium) said a credible common strategy was required. He said the European Commission was busy preparing a macroeconomic aid instrument and rather than waiting for a donor conference, the EU should take action in the next few days or weeks. Helmut Scholz (GUE/NGL, Germany) said that aid had to be accompanied by conditions and transparency about what was done with the money.
Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Stefan Füle said the Commission was prepared to work rapidly with a future government of Ukraine that is committed to economic and political reforms, and was prepared to intervene in the form of aid. He said the Commission was working with all international partners to provide sustainable economic and financial aid to deal with the challenges facing the country. He hoped the ECOFIN Council and IMF would send experts to find out what the genuine needs were in the country.
Association agreement. The MEPs highlighted the need to sign the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement as quickly as possible. On behalf of her political party, Rebecca Harms (Greens/EFA, Germany) said the association agreement should be prepared and signed as soon as possible. Charles Tannock (ECR, United Kingdom) said it should be signed as soon as there is a new government after the 25 May elections. The MEPs recommended an easing of visa requirements for Ukraine passport holders. Hannes Swoboda said on behalf of the S&D that they were calling on the Commission to look into a relaxing of visa requirements and when this might be possible. He called for the respect of minorities and the unity of the country.
Russia prepares for war. Meanwhile, Russia's President Vladimir Putin has ordered a surprise inspection of Russian troops in the west, not far from Ukraine, and in the centre to see whether they are ready for action. Russia is stepping up protection of its fleet in the Black Sea and the Russian base at the port of Sebastopol in Crimea, an autonomous republic of Ukraine. Crimea's capital Simferopol is the scene of clashes between pro-Russians and supporters of the provisional Ukrainian government. (CG)