You're reading: EU to send experts to Ukraine to assist in field of rule of law

The EU Foreign Affairs Council has ordered the European External Action Service (EEAS) to send an expert mission to Ukraine to assist in the field of rule of law and the civilian security sector.

Such an order is contained in the conclusions approved by the EU
Council in Luxembourg on Monday after the consideration of the Ukrainian
question.

“The council is ready to assist Ukraine in the field of civilian
security sector reform, support of the police and the rule of law. In
this regard the council tasks the EEAS to deploy an expert mission to
prepare for appropriate assistance complementary with other on-going
efforts and elaborate a Political Framework for Crisis Approach (PFCA),
examining all options, including through a possible CSDP mission, with a
view to a decision on further EU action at its next meeting,” read the
conclusions.

Furthermore, the council supported the work already undertaken by the
OSCE monitoring mission, “which is of utmost importance in monitoring
developments in Ukraine and will continue to provide its support to this
mission.”

“The council shares the concerns expressed by representatives of the
OSCE and the Council of Europe about current restrictions on their
ability to observe the situation in the area of human rights, including
of persons belonging to national minorities, in Crimea,” reads the
document.

The council also encouraged Ukraine to continue to move ahead with
its course of political reforms, as planned and announced by the
Ukrainian government, including notably the constitutional reform.

In its conclusions, the council also welcomed the recent
parliamentary resolution calling for the immediate disarmament of all
illegal self-defense forces and looks forward to its implementation.

“The council strongly supports the holding of free and fair
presidential elections on 25 May. The EU Member States will actively
participate in the OSCE observation mission. The EU and its member
states stand ready to assist the Ukrainian government in building trust
across the country,” reads the document.

At the same time, the council reiterated the EU’s commitment to sign
the remaining provisions of the Association Agreement, including the
Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area, as soon as possible after the
presidential elections on May 25.

“At the same time, the council noted the importance of Ukraine
swiftly implementing an ambitious set of structural reforms, including
the fight against corruption, and on public finance management and
budget transparency,” read the conclusions.