You're reading: Fule: Ukraine fails in terms of observance of rule of law

Brussels - EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy Stefan Fule has said that Brussels has never associated political condition for signing the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement with a single name, but linked it to the fact that Ukraine failed in term of observance of the rule of law and some aspects of fundamental rights and freedoms.

Speaking at the European Parliament in Brussels on Wednesday, June 6 before journalists from Eastern Partnership countries, Fule denied the suggestion by one of the journalists that Brussels delays the signing of the agreement.

According to him, after the document had been initialed, the work on it currently continues so that the agreement could be prepared for signing before the end of this year.

"But then another question arises – whether there will be political conditions for its signing and subsequent ratification by the European Parliament and later by the EU member states. Political conditions have never been linked to a single name, but due to the fact that Ukraine has failed indeed in terms of the observance of the rule of law and some aspects of fundamental rights and freedoms, which are laid down in this agreement," he said.

In this regard, the European commissioner expressed his confidence that Ukraine will start complying with the terms of this agreement before its ratification.

"Before we ratify it, we expect our partner to begin implementing it," he said.

Fule listed a number of factors with regard to Ukraine that raise concern of the EU, in particular, the prosecution of former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko, which the EU believes to be political, not criminal.

The commissioner also said they were worried about the situation with the freedom of expression in Ukraine, which was deteriorating rather than improving.