Brussels, 05/06/2007 (Agence Europe) - EU membership remains a long term prospect for a democratic and reformed Ukraine, the European Parliament committee on foreign affairs states in an own-initiative report prepared by Michal Kaminski (UEN, Poland). The report was adopted by a very large majority on Tuesday 5 June (54 for, 4 against and 1 abstention). It will be voted in the EP plenary during the July session in Strasbourg.
EU/Ukraine negotiations which opened recently on a new partnership agreement should, at the end of the day, lead to the conclusion of an association agreement that would allow Ukraine to use its mechanisms for further deepening integration with the EU and for preparing the next steps for fulfilment of Ukraine's European aspirations, aimed in the long term at attainment of EU membership, MEPs state in the report. They also call on Ukraine leaders to resolve the current political crisis using peaceful means, to take more effective measures against corruption, ensure the correct functioning of an independent justice system and move more towards integration of the Ukrainian energy market with that of the EU. On this last point, it is vital for Ukraine to apply the principles and rules of transparency and market economy in the energy sector, the report stresses. (hb)