You're reading: Nemyria: EU officials concerned about growing authoritarianism in Ukraine

Brussels, June 24 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The EU leadership is concerned about the "escalation of the authoritarian actions by the authorities in Ukraine," Batkivschyna Party deputy head Hryhoriy Nemyria has said.

He told Interfax-Ukraine in Brussels on Thursday, after a summit of the European People’s Party (EPP), that he had met with European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, President of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek and President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy and that the officials had expressed their "deep concern about this escalation."

"Buzek said that, unfortunately, the Ukrainian government is ignoring for the second time his invitation to [Batkivschyna Party leader] Yulia Tymoshenko to attend the EPP summit, and he hopes that the next steps by the EU will be more accessible for the understanding of the Ukrainian authorities," he said.

Nemyria said that he would have a meeting with EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy Stefan Fule on Friday, during which "we will also consider this situation."