You're reading: European deputies stress Ukraine’s ‘European perspective’ but regret setbacks

Editor's Note: The European Union's office in Kyiv on Nov. 26 issued the following press release about the joint motion on Ukraine adopted on Nov. 25 by the European Parliament.

In its resolution the Parliament “emphasises that, pursuant to Article 49 of the Treaty on European Union, Ukraine may apply for membership of the EU like any European state that adheres to the principles of freedom, democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and the rule of law”.

It also stresses “that Ukraine has a European perspective and strong historical, cultural and economic links to the European Union”.

At the same time the MEPs deplored new challenges faced recently by the Ukrainian democratic developments. The Parliament points out “that the 31 October 2010 local and regional elections, although conducted technically in an orderly manner, did not set a new, positive standard”.

It regrets the fact that “Ukraine changed its electoral law a few months before holding local and regional elections”. It also expresses its concern over the fact that “because registration requests from the opposition parties were not accepted by electoral commissions before the submission of the Party of Regions‘ list, the ruling party in effect gained first place on the lists in approximately 85% of the constituencies”.

The Parliament deplores that “election rules remain an ongoing subject of discussion” and “endorses the need to improve the electoral framework and is encouraged by the work done in cooperation with EU and OSCE experts in developing a draft new Electoral Code”.

MEPs also expressed their concern at “recent developments that could undermine media freedom and pluralism”. It “deplores the fact that two independent TV stations, TVi and TV5, have been deprived of some of their broadcasting frequencies” and calls on the Ukrainian authorities “thoroughly to investigate the disappearance of Vasyl Klymentyev, the editor-in-chief of a newspaper that focuses on corruption in the Kharkiv region”.

At the same time the Parliament “welcomes a recent proposal to introduce Public Service Broadcasting in Ukraine” and also welcomes “the public assurances given by the Ukrainian authorities that the legal framework needed to establish a public service broadcaster will be concluded by the end of the year”.

MEPs called on the authorities “to investigate all reports of infringements of rights and freedoms, to remedy any violations identified and to investigate the role of the SBU with regard to interference in the democratic process”.

On the Association Agreement talks, the Parliament stressed that its deep and comprehensive free trade area chapter “should make for Ukraine’s gradual integration into the EU internal market, including the extension of the four freedoms to the country”. It also urged “both parties to do everything needed to achieve final agreement in the first half of next year”.

The MEPs are “discouraged”, however, by the fact that the “Verkhovna Rada adopted amendments to the new Law on Public Procurement, in accordance with which goods, works and services procured for the purposes of holding the 2012 European Football Championship in Ukraine are excluded from the scope of that law”.

On visa issue, the Parliament “welcomes the Action Plan towards visa liberalisation for Ukraine as agreed at the 14th EU-Ukraine Summit on 22 November 2010”. It urges “the Member States to abolish fees for processing national and Schengen visa applications for Ukrainian citizens as an intermediate objective” and “to use 2012 European Football Championship as a testing period for a final visa-free regime”.

In its resolution the Parliament also touched upon issues of energy, fight against corruption, education, etc.

Read the full text of the resolution