While highlighting the progress already made, the European Parliament called on Ukraine, on Thursday 11 February, to continue on the path of reform.
Taking up the report by Michael Gahler (EPP, Germany) on the implementation of the EU Association Agreement with Ukraine (526 votes in favour, 79 against with 71 abstentions), MEPs encourage the Ukrainian authorities to push ahead with reforms, particularly in the areas of the Rule of law and the fight against corruption, and to guarantee the independence and proper functioning of the main anti-corruption bodies.
The Ukrainian authorities must continue and accelerate the reform of the judicial system, stresses the European Parliament, which also calls for further privatisation of state-owned enterprises and decentralisation, improvement of the electoral code and reform of the health system.
MEPs also criticise the deteriorating political climate, the authorities’ attempts to exert political pressure on independent economic institutions and law enforcement authorities and regret the lack of progress in dismantling oligarchies in the country.
For the European Parliament, the Commission should develop qualitative mechanisms to monitor Ukraine’s implementation of reforms, including clear benchmarks and conditionality principles.
MEPs also call for the full implementation of the Association Agreement, again urging Kiev to keep its implementation high on their agenda. According to the European Parliament, the strengthening of sectoral cooperation is necessary in areas such as the digital economy, energy, climate change and trade.
Finally, MEPs reiterate once again their support for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and condemn the violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms in Crimea and Donbass.
See the report: http://bit.ly/3cZuAH7 (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)