MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the situation in Ukraine
4.2.2014 - (2014/2547(RSP))
pursuant to Rule 110(2) of the Rules of Procedure
Charles Tannock, Ryszard Czarnecki, Paweł Robert Kowal, Ryszard Antoni Legutko, Marek Henryk Migalski, Tomasz Piotr Poręba, Adam Bielan on behalf of the ECR Group
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B7-0138/2014
The European Parliament,
– having regard to its resolutions of 23 October 2013 on European Neighbourhood Policy, working towards a stronger partnership – EP’s Position on the 2012 progress reports[1], 14 December 2011 on the review of the European Neighbourhood Policy[2], and 7 April 2011 on the review of the European Neighbourhood Policy – Eastern Dimension[3],
– having regard to the Council conclusions on Ukraine of 10 December 2012,
– having regard to its previous resolutions on Ukraine, in particular its resolution of 12 December 2013 on the outcome of the Vilnius Summit and the future of the Eastern Partnership, in particular as regards Ukraine[4],
– having regard to the conclusion of the negotiations between the EU and Ukraine on the Association Agreement, including negotiations on a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA), and to the initialling of this agreement,
– having regard to the decision of the Ukrainian Government to suspend the process of preparing for the signing of the Association Agreement with the EU,
– having regard to the deteriorating situation in Ukraine, which developed after the decision by the Ukrainian authorities not to sign the Association Agreement at the Vilnius Summit of 28 and 29 November 2013, resulting in the outbreak of massive popular demonstrations in support of Ukraine’s European choice at the Euromaidan in Kyiv and in cities all over Ukraine,
– having regard to the current economic and political situation of Ukraine,
– having regard to Rule 110(2) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas the demonstrations in Kyiv, which began in November 2013 as a protest against the government’s decision not to sign the Association Agreement with the EU, changed into a general movement against the authorities after the brutal attack by riot police on protesters;
B. whereas the Ukrainian authorities are responsible for public safety, but whereas the number of fatalities and injuries to persons continues to rise;
C. whereas at least 234 people have been detained since the beginning of the protests, of whom 140 have been placed under pre-trial arrest, according to the Prosecutor‑General’s Office;
D. whereas the number of missing people is increasing, as illustrated by the case of the prominent Automaidan movement leader Dmitry Bulatov, who has finally been found with many physical injuries, having been missing since 22 January 2014;
E. whereas unrest has been reported in many other cities in Ukraine, with protesters taking control of local administration centres;
F. whereas there have been signals that the Ukrainian Government is planning to declare a state of emergency;
G. whereas for many weeks the people of Ukraine gathered in Euromaidan in unprecedented numbers to express their support for freedom and democracy;
H. whereas the Ukrainian opposition has made an appeal to Western leaders and politicians to support and help the protesters;
I. whereas President Yanukovych has accepted the resignation of Mykola Azarov from the post of Prime Minister;
J. whereas on 31 January 2014, the President of Ukraine signed the law adopted by the Verkhovna Rada on 28 January 2014 repealing law 3879 of 16 January 2014, which imposed restrictions on freedoms;
K. whereas the Verkhovna Rada adopted the law on amnesty for protesters, dubbed by the opposition and experts as ‘the law on taking hostages by the state’, instead of the agreed compromise version of the law on amnesty;
1. Expresses its full solidarity with the people of Ukraine and condemns the violent repressions against peaceful protesters, journalists, NGO activists, students and clergy;
2. Expresses its sincere condolences to the families of the victims of the clashes, repressions and abductions;
3. Warns the authorities that any further escalation of violence may have serious political consequences; in the event of further provocations, calls on the Council to impose travel and financial sanctions on the members of the government responsible for aggravating the situation and for violating human rights and disregarding the rule of law; points to the immediate reaction of the US Embassy in Kyiv, which revoked the visas of several officials who were linked to the violence after the deaths that occurred on 22 January 2014;
4. Urges the Ukrainian authorities to engage in talks with the protesters in order to avoid an escalation of violence and a destabilisation 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; recalls that in any democracy new elections can be called by popular demand, particularly when renewed popular consent is required for major geo‑political changes;
5. Welcomes the decision taken by the Ukrainian Parliament to repeal the repressive anti‑protest laws passed on 16 January 2014;
6. Notes the ongoing negotiations between the authorities and the opposition leaders, and hopes that they will bring about a peaceful, democratic, political solution to the crisis; calls on all sides to continue the talks and respect the voice and the interests of the people;
7. Calls on the authorities to release immediately all political prisoners, including Yulia Tymoshenko, civil society activists, journalists, members of the clergy and protesters detained in Kyiv and other cities;
8. Calls on the authorities to take all necessary measures to address the current atmosphere of intimidation and to restore accountability for all official acts by restoring the rule of law;
9. Fully supports Ukraine’s European aspirations and recalls its readiness to sign the Association Agreement and Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement with the EU once a political solution between the government and opposition has been found;
10. Calls for the EU institutions and the Member States to commit to a broad opening to Ukrainian society, in particular a swift agreement on a cost-free visa facilitation regime, strengthened research cooperation, expanded youth exchanges and increased availability of scholarships; considers that further efforts should be made to include Ukraine fully in the EU’s internal energy market;
11. Underlines the calls made by the opposition to EU leaders and politicians to support the aspirations of the Ukrainian people by all available means, including diplomatic pressure on the authorities, targeted measures against government officials responsible for human rights violations, examination of the role played by some of the leading oligarchs’ funding of the governing party, as well as personal visits to Euromaidan in order to show solidarity with the protestors and send a strong political signal to the authorities;
12. Remains concerned about Russian interference in Ukraine’s internal affairs, and calls on Russia to refrain from pressuring the authorities to act against the will of the Ukrainian people;
13. Underlines the need for the EU to support the involvement of international financial institutions, such as the International Monetary Fund and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, with a view to providing financial assistance to help Ukraine implement reforms connected with the signing of the Association Agreement;
14. Supports the further involvement of civil society in national reform processes; encourages enhanced interparliamentary cooperation with the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly; welcomes the involvement of the Conference of Local and Regional Authorities of the Eastern Partnership;
15. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Member States, the President of Ukraine, the governments and parliaments of the Eastern Partnership countries and of the Russian Federation, the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly, and the parliamentary assemblies of the Council of Europe and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
- [1] Texts adopted, P7_TA(2013)0446.
- [2] Texts adopted, P7_TA(2011)0576.
- [3] OJ C 296 E, 2.10.2012, p. 105.
- [4] Texts adopted, P7_TA(2013)0595.