MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

29.3.2006

to wind up the debate on statements by the Council and Commission
pursuant to Rule 103(2) of the Rules of Procedure
by Jan Marinus Wiersma, Marek Maciej Siwiec, Thijs Berman and Marianne Mikko
on behalf of the PSE Group
on the parliamentary elections in Ukraine

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B6-0235/2006

B6‑0235/2006

European Parliament resolution on the parliamentary elections in Ukraine

The European Parliament,

–  having regard to its previous resolutions on the political developments in Ukraine, and in particular its resolution of 13 January 2003,

–  having regard to the statement made on 27 March 2006 by the International Election Observation Mission on the conduct of the 2006 parliamentary elections in Ukraine,

–  having regard to the Action Plan for Ukraine and the further measures decided by the Council in support of a democratic and reform-oriented Ukraine,

–  having regard to Rule 103(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

A.  whereas the International Election Observation Mission of the European Parliament, the OSCE/ODIHR and of the Parliamentary Assemblies of the Council of Europe, the OSCE and NATO concluded that the parliamentary elections held on 26 March 2006 in Ukraine had been free and fair and conducted in accordance with international standards for democratic elections,

B.  whereas it was concluded that the elections were administered in a democratic and transparent manner with virtually no incidents, although problems in staffing polling stations and excessive numbers of voters at some polling stations caused a certain degree of disorder on election day,

C.  whereas it was furthermore concluded that the media coverage during the election campaign had been generally balanced, giving the people of Ukraine the possibility to freely make their political choice and to express it in their votes,

1.  Sincerely welcomes the free and fair way in which the parliamentary elections have been conducted, which consolidates the democratic process in Ukraine that began with the people of Ukraine forcing a third electoral round in the 2004 presidential elections;

2.  Pays tribute to the people of Ukraine who have - despite the sometimes difficult circumstances at the polling stations - demonstrated their commitment to the democratic process in their country;

3.  Urges all members of the newly elected Verkhovna Rada as well as the new Ukrainian Government to fully commit themselves to the irreversibility of this democratic process and to continue and strengthen without hesitation the process of political, social and economic reform as well as that of closer cooperation with the European Union;

4.  Urges the Commission and Council to consider a further strengthening of the measures in the European Neighbourhood Policy Action Plan aimed at supporting the further democratic development of Ukraine, in particular with regard to strengthening respect for the rule of law and the continuation and strengthening of social and economic reform; also urges the Member States to undertake similar initiatives and concrete support projects which contribute to a continuation of the democratisation and reform process in Ukraine;

5.  Appeals to all neighbouring countries to fully respect the democratic choice of the Ukrainian people and to refrain from any economic pressure or other forms of pressure aimed at altering the democratically-decided further political, social and economic development of the country;

6.  Urges the new Government of the Ukraine to remain a reliable partner of the European Union, with specific regard to enhancing stability in the region, and in particular to finding a solution to the Transnistria problem;

7.  Looks forward to a sustained transition process in Ukraine that will move the country further towards the objective of increasingly intensive cooperation with the European Union, and commits itself to assisting and supporting Ukraine in this process;

8.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council, the Parliament and the Government of Ukraine and to the Parliamentary Assemblies of the Council of Europe, the OSCE and NATO.