It will be extremely problematic for Ukraine to find international creditors under the current circumstances; it will have to hold profound economic reforms first, head of the European Parliament's EU-Russia Parliamentary Cooperation Committee Knut Fleckenstein told Kommersant in an interview. Budget consolidation will be insufficient without a lengthy process of economic modernization, creation of new jobs and bolstering of innovations, he said. Lenders set similar requirements for Ukraine and borrowers within the EU, the parliamentarian explained.
It is important that the interim government fulfills the main demands
of Maidan as soon as possible, Fleckenstein continued. He also said the
EU expected the soonest possible democratic election and the adoption
of a new constitution. Ukraine needs a legitimate government and
parliament to unite all political forces, the parliamentarian said.
In turn, the EU is prepared to back the political and economic reforms listed in the unsigned association deal, he said.
Both Europe and Russia are concerned about the enhancement of radical
sentiments in Ukraine, the deputy noted. This is not an exclusively
Moscow’s concern; the EU does not support forces of the Right Sector
kind, he said. Being a German delegate to the European Parliament,
Fleckenstein said that he felt a special responsibility to prevent
right-wing extremist parties from taking the office. It will be
difficult for the governmental coalition to earn the trust of
international partners, which is absolutely necessary for financial
support, if it includes radicalized forces, he said. In this case
Ukraine may have altercations not only with Russia but also with the EU,
he said.
The European Parliament is set to discuss the Ukrainian situation on Thursday.
