Strasbourg, 26/04/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday, the European Parliament debated the political crisis in Ukraine. President Yushchenko's decision to hold fresh elections, and the verdict of the constitutional court on the legality of this decision, will be closely monitored by the Council, said German Secretary of State for European Affairs Günter Gloser on behalf of the presidency of the EU. He indicated that the Council, in particular through Javier Solana, was in contact with both parties. Now it was a matter of avoiding any escalation of the crisis, helping to find compromises and promoting a free vote that would open the way for a democratic solution. The Council must be part of this process, but must maintain a position of neutrality, Mr Gloser said, and he stated his confidence in the democratic spirit of the Ukrainian people during this “transition and transformation process”.
The hardening of differences between the Ukrainian president and his Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych had been noted with concern by the European Commission, said Commissioner Vladimir Spidla (standing in for Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner). He stressed how vital stability was for Ukraine and its future in Europe, and raised a number of positive points, notably the fact that, for the moment, street demonstrations had been non-violent, showing that the Ukrainian people understood the importance of maintaining democracy. But what should the EU's role be? Without becoming directly involved in the affairs of the country, the EU must call for reason, send a message of confidence and continue negotiations on a new expanded agreement, which would offer Ukraine new prospects, for example, for increased cooperation in energy, said Mr Spidla. He added that Ukraine remained a fine example of the success of the EU's neighbourhood policy.
Polish MEP Jacek Saryusz-Wolski, speaking for the EPP-ED, said the EU could have done more to stop this crisis from happening, particularly with financial aid to help overcome the Soviet past. For the Greens, German MEP Rebecca Harms felt the president's decision to call new elections was fully justified, but the outcome of these elections had to be respected by all parties. The conduct of the Ukrainians during this crisis was “light years” away from that of their large neighbour, Russia, she said. Addressing Mr Saryusz-Wolski, who, rightly, supported Ukraine so strongly, Ms Harms expressed her wish for Poland to be as European in all other areas of European integration.
Ukraine's Orange Revolution had not been able to overcome the country's latent political conflicts, according to Dutch MEP Jan Wiersma, speaking for the Socialist group, and he called on the rivals to overcome their contradictions and undertake reform. It was by making progress along the way opened by the peaceful Orange Revolution that Ukraine would maintain its good relations with the EU, said Hungarian Istvan Szent-Ivanyi, on behalf of the ALDE group. For the UEN, Latvian MEP Guntar Krasts argued that he possibility of Ukraine's accession to the EU should remain open, with, of course, all the rigour that required. German MEP Helmut Markov, speaking for the GUE/NGL, suggested that both parties be invited to debate the issue together in Strasbourg. (lg)