MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

3.4.2006

to wind up the debate on statements by the Council and Commission
pursuant to Rule 103(2) of the Rules of Procedure
by Guntars Krasts, Inese Vaidere, Zbigniew Krzysztof Kuźmiuk, Michał Tomasz Kamiński and Hanna Foltyn-Kubicka
on behalf of the UEN Group
on the results of the parliamentary elections in Ukraine

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

B6‑0249/2006

European Parliament resolution on the results of the parliamentary elections in Ukraine

The European Parliament,

–  having regard to its resolution of 20 November 2003 on ‘Wider Europe - Neighbourhood: A New Framework for Relations with our Eastern and Southern Neighbours’,

–  having regard to its resolutions of 28 October 2004, 2 December 2004 and 13 January 2006 on the presidential elections in Ukraine,

–  having regard to its resolution of 19 January 2006 on the European Neighbourhood Policy,

–  having regard to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States and Ukraine, which entered into force on 1 March 1998,

–  having regard to the European Council Common Strategy 1999/877/CFSP on Ukraine, adopted by the European Council in Helsinki on 11 December 1999,

–  having regard to the Commission Communication of 12 May 2004 on the European Neighbourhood Policy (COM(2004)0373),

–  having regard to the OSCE/ODIHR's Preliminary Statement of 27 March 2006 on the Ukrainian elections,

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

A.  whereas the elections to the Verkhovna Rada held on 26 March 2006 using the proportional representation system were the first truly democratic, transparent and representative elections in Ukraine's history,

B.  whereas the elections were observed by the European Parliament observation mission (in the framework of the International Election Observation Mission) and missions by several European Parliament political groups,

1.  Congratulates the Ukrainian people on the conduct of free and fair elections to the Verkhovna Rada, carried out in accordance with international standards for democratic elections;

2.  Underlines that the conduct of the elections and the election campaign in a manner consistent with fundamental civil and political rights provided good proof of the consolidation and breakthrough of the democratic standards established in Ukraine since the Orange Revolution;

3.  Stresses that the elections to the Verkhovna Rada in Ukraine have set a new and very welcome standard for democratic elections in the region as a whole;

4.  Adds, however, that some mainly technical shortcomings in the election organisation, identified during the poll, require further attention and corrective solutions by the relevant Ukrainian state authorities in the future:

• -no ceiling on election campaign spending imposed by the election law;
• -inaccuracies in the establishment of the electoral rolls;
• -overcrowding and long queues at a number of polling stations;

5.  Urges the Ukrainian authorities to make the necessary changes to the legislation in order to avoid holding legislative, regional and local elections concurrently, thereby simplifying and shortening the voting process in the polling stations;

6.  Expresses its disappointment that legislative amendments removing the ceiling on campaign spending were adopted by the Ukranian Parliament last year, thus offering political parties/blocs scope for unlimited campaign financing; encourages the Ukrainian authorities to reintroduce legal limits on campaign spending, in order to increase accountability and the transparency of campaign financing;

7.  Underlines the crucial importance for the winning 'Orange' forces of reaching mutually acceptable compromises and establishing a stable ground for constructive and workable coalition building, aiming at the further strengthening of common European values, democracy, civil society and the rule of law;

8.  Stresses that Ukraine has made good progress towards democratic and economic reform during the last year and hopes that the new parliament and government will consolidate the achievements and continue on this path by resuming more decisive and dynamic market reforms to strengthen the market economy and ease the burden on the economy observed in 2005;

9.  Underscores that the further integration of Ukraine into the EU and Euro-Atlantic framework depends on the establishment of the 'Orange' government coalition and its ability to address effectively the political priorities of the Action Plan, thus bringing EU-Ukraine relations to a new level;

10.  Welcomes the Council’s adoption of the EU-Ukraine Action Plan on 21 February 2005 and calls for its rapid implementation; also calls on the Commission to draft an Association Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States and Ukraine, to replace the current agreement which expires in 2008;

11.  Calls on the Council and Commission to provide large-scale assistance to Ukraine for key reforms aimed at strengthening the market economy, including the vitally important steps to enable Ukraine to gain membership of the World Trade Organisation;

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