On Wednesday 12 December, the European Parliament strongly condemned "the deliberate aggression of Ukraine by the Russian Federation on 25 November in the Kerch Strait" in the Azov Sea, recalling that "there is no justification for the use of military force by Russia".
By adopting an EPP amendment to Michael Gahler's (EPP, Germany) report on Ukraine, Parliament is calling on the EU and its Member States "to adopt targeted sanctions if the Ukrainian military is not released or in the event of a further military escalation". The EU and its Member States should close access to EU ports for Russian ships from the Azov Sea if Moscow does not restore freedom of navigation in the Kerch Strait and Azov Sea, say MEPs. Parliament would also like the mandate of the OSCE Special Observation Mission to be extended to the Azov Sea.
Mr Gahler's report, adopted by 433 votes in favour, 105 against and 30 abstentions, reviews the reforms in the country. According to him, since the entry into force of the Association Agreement two years ago, Ukraine has carried out important reforms in the fields of energy, health, pensions, education, public and banking administration and macroeconomic stabilisation.
But the country must make the fight against corruption an absolute priority, tackle the problems of oligarchic power, strengthen privatisation and pursue decentralisation reforms, the Parliament warns. And while welcoming the ongoing comprehensive judicial reform, he regrets that the current system remains "ineffective, corrupt and politically dependent".
Parliament is also concerned about the human rights situation, including the situation of minorities, and attacks on civil rights defenders and journalists.
Finally, the report highlights the progress made in the implementation of the deep and comprehensive free trade area. MEPs welcome in particular the increase in the volume of trade between the European Union and Ukraine and the diversification of Ukrainian exports to the Union. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)