The European Parliament has described the decision of the Ukrainian authorities to postpone preparations for the signing of an Association Agreement with the European Union as "a major missed opportunity" in relations between Kyiv and Brussels.
However, the European Parliament reaffirmed its “strong support” for the speedy signing of the document.
This is stated in a European Parliament resolution on the outcome of
the Vilnius Summit and the future of the Eastern Partnership, in
particular as regards Ukraine, which was voted on during a plenary
session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Thursday.
“[The European Parliament] deplores the decision by the Ukrainian
authorities, under the lead of President [Viktor] Yanukovych, to
withdraw from signing the Association Agreement with the EU during the
Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius, despite the clear will on the EU
side to continue with the association process, provided the conditions
are met; considers this decision to be a major missed opportunity in
EU-Ukraine relations and for Ukraine’s aspirations,” reads the
resolution
The European Parliament also said that it “acknowledges Ukraine’s
European aspirations, as expressed in the ongoing demonstrations by
Ukrainian civil society in the Euromaidan in Kyiv and in other cities
all over Ukraine, which did not hesitate to take its disapproval of
President Yanukovych’s decision out onto the streets, and reiterates its
view that a deepening of relations between the EU and Ukraine and the
fact of offering Ukraine a European perspective are of great
significance and in the interests of both parties.”
In this regard, the resolution reaffirms “strong support for the
signing of the Association Agreement as soon as possible,” provided that
the relevant requirements are met, in order “to send a strong political
signal that the EU remains ready to engage with Ukraine.”
The resolution also calls for the EU institutions and the EU member
states “to commit to a broad opening towards Ukrainian society, in
particular through a swift agreement on a visa-free regime, strengthened
research cooperation, expanded youth exchanges and increased
availability of scholarships.”
“[The European Parliament] considers that further efforts should be
made to include Ukraine fully in the EU’s internal energy market,” reads
the document.
