MEPs adopted a resolution, with a vote by show of hands, in favour of Ukraine’s accession to the July 2019 Convention on the recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments in civil and commercial matters at the European Parliament’s plenary session in Strasbourg on Thursday 15 June.
Ahead of the plenary vote, Adrián Vázquez Lázara (Renew Europe, Spanish), who had submitted an oral question to the legal affairs committee on the European Commission’s positive assessment of Ukraine’s accession to the Convention, asked what measures would be taken in the future in order to ensure that the Commission guaranteed respect for the European Parliament’s prerogatives regarding the accession of third countries to the Convention.
The European Commissioner for Energy, Kadri Simson, had stated that Ukraine has put in place the necessary foundations to ensure respect for fundamental rights and the independence of its judicial system, according to the Commission’s assessment. According to Ms Simson, this step would enable Ukraine to establish an even closer relationship with the European Union on the road to their potential membership.
Kadri Simson also gave assurances that the Commission would undertake to consult the European Parliament and take its views into account as part of the decision-making process, “in accordance with the European Treaties and the duty of sincere cooperation”. When it comes to proposing an objection to a decision, the European Commission undertakes to inform Parliament of any intention to accede to this judgments convention, taking into account the opinions expressed by MEPs.
“We applied this during the evaluation of Ukraine’s candidature and we will continue to do so in the future”, she concluded.
Read the resolution: https://aeur.eu/f/7is (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)