Decision of the Ukrainian Parliament to extend the lease of the Sevastopol base

29.4.2010

ORAL QUESTION H-0219/10
for Question Time at the part-session in May 2010
pursuant to Rule 116 of the Rules of Procedure
by Laima Liucija Andrikienė
to the Council

On 27 April 2010, the parliament of Ukraine – the Verkhovna Rada – took the unexpected decision to ratify a new treaty extending the Russian navy’s lease of the Sevastopol base for 25 years after 2017, with an option to further prolong the lease for five additional years. The decision was adopted by a majority of 236 out of 450 in the midst of an embarrassing brawl in the chamber of the Verkhovna Rada. The Russian Duma quickly followed suit and ratified the treaty by an astonishing 98% majority.

 

In the opinion of the Council, what impact will this agreement have on Ukraine’s sovereignty? How will it affect Ukraine’s Euro-Atlantic integration prospects?

 

Considering that after the 2007 enlargement the EU will directly border the Black Sea, what impact will the presence of this strong Russian naval base close to the EU border have on the EU’s long-term security?

 

 

Tabled: 29.04.2010

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