The European Parliament has called for the immediate launch of a new EU mediation mission "at the highest political level" to secure a peaceful outcome to the current crisis in Ukraine.
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 during a plenary session
of the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Thursday.
“[The European Parliament] calls for the immediate launch of a new,
fully fledged EU mediation mission at the highest political level, to
achieve, and assist in, roundtable talks between the government and the
democratic opposition and civil society and to secure a peaceful outcome
to the current crisis,” reads the resolution.
In addition, the European Parliament expresses its full solidarity
“with those demonstrating for a European future; and calls on the
Ukrainian authorities to fully respect people’s civil rights and the
fundamental freedom of assembly and peaceful protest.”
“[The European Parliament] strongly condemns the use of brutal force
against peaceful demonstrations, and stresses the need for a prompt,
effective and independent investigation, and the prosecution of those
found guilty; and calls for the immediate and unconditional release of
the peaceful protesters arrested in the last few days,” reads the
resolution.
In addition, the document underlines Ukraine’s international obligations in this regard.
“[The European Parliament] stresses that such measures clearly stand
against the fundamental principles of freedom of assembly and
expression, and are therefore in breach of universal and European
values,” reads the resolution.
In this regard, the European Parliament noted that in view of
Ukraine’s position as the incumbent OSCE Chair-in-Office, its record on
the defense and promotion of these values is being scrutinized even more
closely.
The European Parliament also deplores the “violent events of the
night of December 9, 2013, when the security forces stormed the offices
of opposition parties and independent media outlets, and harassed
protesters.”
“[The European Parliament] considers that these events may lead to a
further escalation of an already tense situation,” reads the document.
In this regard, the European Parliament noted that several channels
of communication, including the European Parliament Monitoring Mission
led by Presidents Pat Cox and Aleksander Kwasniewski, are open between
the EU and Ukraine.
“Therefore [the European Parliament] reiterates that the concerns
raised by the Ukrainian authorities to justify this last-minute decision
to suspend should have been voiced earlier so as to allow them to be
addressed,” reads the resolution.
In the light of the current situation the resolution “urges the
Ukrainian authorities to engage in talks with the protesters in order to
avoid an escalation of violence and destabilization of the country, and
urges all political parties to ensure that an orderly, calm and
reflective parliamentary debate can be conducted on the economic and
political situation and the prospects for future integration with the
EU.”
“[The European Parliament] notes that in any democracy new elections
can be called when renewed popular legitimacy is needed,” reads the
document, pointing to the possible holding of new elections in Ukraine.
In this regard, the European Parliament recalled that several
channels of communication, including the European Parliament Monitoring
Mission led by Presidents Pat Cox and Aleksander Kwasniewski, are open
between the EU and Ukraine.
“Therefore [the European Parliament] reiterates that the concerns
raised by the Ukrainian authorities to justify this last-minute decision
to suspend should have been voiced earlier so as to allow them to be
addressed,” reads the resolution.
