Brussels, 27/01/2016 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 27 January, a source at the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) said that it is currently difficult to judge whether the elections in Donbass in Ukraine can be organised before June. The holding of these elections is nevertheless essential for the Minsk agreements to be fully implemented (see EUROPE 11403) and for the economic sanctions (which have been extended until 31 July 2016) to be lifted against the Russian Federation. The elections should be followed by the re-establishment of Kiev's control on the eastern borders of Ukraine.
A working group, which includes representatives from Ukraine, Russia and the OSCE, is working on new electoral legislation, which will have to be approved by the Ukrainian Parliament. The elections will then have to be held within 30 days of this legislation being adopted. According to the OSCE source, in order for these elections to take place, the environment must be safe both for the voters and the international observers.
Nevertheless, at the current time, “it is really difficult to tell whether these elections can take place before June. It's a very short time”, the same source stated. “If the necessary measures are implemented now, it could be possible”, the source added. The negotiations on the electoral legislation continue to be “difficult”, but they are being pursued. “Political pressure is needed” in order to complete them successfully, the source added.
The OSCE source also considered that the situation on the ground was unstable and that the ceasefire was “unsatisfactory”, due to repeated violations. While there were not so many violations after the ceasefire on 1 September, they nevertheless increased in November and December. After relative calm over the Christmas and New Year period, the violations have now resumed.
Although there are fewer direct clashes and although some military equipment has been withdrawn from the combat zones, the OSCE notes the return of certain front line weapons. Incidents towards the OSCE observers also continue. Furthermore, the observers only have access to the border every now and again, and when they do, it is not at the most sensitive points, the source stated. There are currently 544 international observers in eastern Ukraine.
The OSCE source also stated that Ukraine should make progress on the reform of the constitution - the vote for which has been scheduled in the parliament on 2 February. However, to be adopted, two thirds of the deputies need to vote in favour of it. It is not certain that Ukraine's president, Petro Poroshenko, will obtain this majority.
European Parliament calls for reforms to be continued. Elsewhere, on Tuesday 26 January, the head of the European Parliament's delegation to the EU-Ukraine association committee, Andrej Plenkovic (EPP, Croatia), called on Ukraine to continue its reforms. Plenkovic hailed the achievements made thus far. “The constitutional amendments on decentralisation and the judicial system must be considered as priorities”, he said at the end of a meeting with the deputy leader of the Ukrainian presidential administration, Dmytro Shymkiv. Plenkovic added that the implementation of decisive reforms was expected in many areas, especially in the civil service, in the economic sector and media, and in favour of transparency and responsibility in relation to European standards. “The first months of 2016 are crucial in finalising the package of reforms in line with the commitments taken under the Visa Liberalisation Action Plan, and in launching necessary measures for the smooth implementation of the deep and comprehensive freed trade agreement after its entry into force on 1 January 2016”, Plenkovic stated in a press release. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)