Motion for a resolution - B7-0122/2010Motion for a resolution
B7-0122/2010

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the situation in Ukraine

17.2.2010

to wind up the debate on the statement by the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the Commission
pursuant to Rule 110(2) of the Rules of Procedure

Rebecca Harms and Werner Schulz on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B7-0116/2010

Procedure : 2010/2525(RSP)
Document stages in plenary
Document selected :  
B7-0122/2010
Texts tabled :
B7-0122/2010
Debates :
Texts adopted :

B7‑0122/2010

European Parliament resolution on the situation in Ukraine

The European Parliament,

–   having regard to its previous resolutions on Ukraine,

–   having regard to the OSCE statement of 18 January 2010 on the outcome of the first round of the presidential election,

–   having regard to the OSCE statement of 7 February 2010 on the preliminary findings and conclusions on the second round of the presidential elections,

–   having regard to the Joint Statement adopted by the parties at the EU-Ukraine summit which took place in Kiev on 4 December 2009,

–  having regard to the Joint Declaration of the Prague Eastern Partnership Summit of 7 May 2009,

–   having regard to the EU-Ukraine Association Agenda adopted at the EU-Ukraine Cooperation Council in June 2009 that replaces the EU-Ukraine Action Plan,

–   having regard to Regulation (EC) No 1638/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 October 2006 laying down general provisions establishing a European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI)[1],

–   having regard to the National Indicative Programme 2011-2013 for Ukraine,

–   having regard to Rule 110(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas the International Election Observation Mission of the European Parliament, the parliamentary assemblies of the Council of Europe, the OSCE, NATO and the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) concluded that the first round of the presidential election held on 17 January 2010 satisfied most OSCE and Council of Europe commitments; whereas also the second round confirmed the assessment of the first round,

B.  whereas this election showed significant progress and improvements over previous elections with regard, in particular, to the respect for civil and political rights, including freedom of assembly, association and expression; whereas the election days were conducted in a correct and efficient manner,

C.  whereas some shortcomings were, however, identified, with regard in particular to the media, who were subject to heavy financial pressure and pressure from economic interests and showed editorial bias reflecting the political views of their owners, and with regard to the access of small parties to the media,

D.  whereas the campaign atmosphere of the second round was adversely affected by mutual accusations of fraud and last-minute amendments to the election law,

E.  whereas despite the fact that non-governmental organisations were not permitted officially to observe the election, the presence of domestic and international observers significantly increased transparency during the electoral process and on voting day,

F.  whereas Ukraine’s European aspirations are fully reflected in the Association Agenda aimed at facilitating the implementation of the association agreement which is now being negotiated; whereas this new agreement provides the framework for deeper and closer relations and paves the way for the further integration of Ukraine into the EU’s common policies and the stepping up of political cooperation,

G.  whereas EU-Ukraine relations have made substantial progress in the last few years in general, and in particular in the areas of foreign and security policy and trade, financial and economic matters; whereas further progress is needed in the fields of energy and the environment,

H.  whereas the Eastern Partnership must, in order to be successful and contribute to the peaceful development, stability and prosperity of all the Eastern neighbours, be based on practical and credible projects; whereas Ukraine plays a crucial and strategic role in this respect,

1.  Congratulates the people of Ukraine on voting in large numbers and freely expressing their will, thus showing a great desire to participate in and decide on the future course of their country; notes that the diverse field of candidates representing alternative political views during the presidential election offered a choice to the people of Ukraine;

2.  Takes note of the result of the election, congratulates the new President and expects him to reconfirm and strengthen Ukraine’s determination to continue on its path towards European integration and democratic reform, as also towards deepening and enhancing cooperation with the EU in the neighbourhood area with regard, in particular, to the Eastern Partnership and the Black Sea Synergy policies; believes, in this regard, that cooperation between the President and the Prime Minister of Ukraine and dialogue with the opposition are extremely important in order to attain these goals and promote political and economic stability in the country;

3.  Welcomes the fact that the presidential election was conducted in a satisfactory manner, in accordance with international electoral standards, and points out that Ukraine is steadily moving towards becoming an increasingly mature democracy ready to play its role on the Continent in line with its European aspirations;

4.  Takes note of the shortcomings of the election identified by the International Election Observation Mission; calls upon the relevant authorities in Ukraine to set out a clear election code which will be implemented in good faith and in a non-restrictive manner; calls urgently for more transparency in the financing of the political parties and calls for more transparent campaign financing during pre-election periods, in order to avoid the misuse of administrative resources for personal gain; calls upon the Central Election Commission to address complaints brought forward by the candidates in a transparent manner and to provide effective remedies with formal decisions;

5.  Calls on the Ukrainian authorities, while recognising that Ukraine has ratified the Council of Europe Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities and the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, to make greater efforts to reach out to minority communities in Ukraine by producing campaign materials in minority languages, and to integrate these communities further in any political development in the country;

6.  Welcomes the significant improvement in the freedom of expression and the pluralistic media environment in Ukraine, which offered voters significant information about the leading presidential candidates and their electoral programmes; calls for revision of the electoral law to ensure fairer and more equal access to the media for all candidates participating in electoral processes in the future;

7.  Regrets the adoption by the Werkhovna Rada of the highly controversial amendments to the presidential electoral law proposed by the Party of Regions just a few days before the second round, even though this does not seem to have had a significant impact on the conduct of election day;

8.  Hopes that the outcome of these elections will bring deeper political commitment to strengthening the political dialogue and carrying out the much needed constitutional and political reforms in Ukraine in order to ensure stable, functioning governance of the country; draws attention, in particular, to the necessity to adopt laws aimed at increasing the transparency of the political system, with regard in particular to relations between business and politics, and at addressing the question of conflicts of interests;

9.  Welcomes Ukraine’s active support for the Eastern Partnership and the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly and its commitment to consolidating its efforts to ensure greater democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as to the market economy, sustainable development and good governance in this connection;

10. Urges the Council and the Commission to deliver on the EU promises and address the expectations of the Ukrainian people, who are increasingly looking to the EU to provide more specific opportunities for integrating further politically, economically and socially into European structures and policies, and therefore encourages the Commission to continue and accelerate the negotiations on the new Association Agreement, which is to assist Ukraine in its gradual approximation to the EU on the basis of joint responsibility and joint ownership by the two parties; calls on the Commission to align closely the Association Agenda with the National Indicative Programme 2011-13;

11. Urges all neighbouring countries to fully respect the free and democratic choices of the Ukrainian people and to refrain from any pressure or interference aimed at overturning the democratic will and decisions taken by Ukraine in relation to its political, social and economical development;

12. Points out that the implementation of readmission and visa facilitation agreements has made progress but without result; stresses that further efforts are needed to improve these agreements now with regard, in particular, to broadening the categories of Ukrainian citizens benefiting from the visa facilitation agreement and finding appropriate solutions for facilitating the general visa procedure for Ukrainian nationals in view of the new EC legislation on visas;  

13. Calls on the Member States to apply the Visa Code in such a way as to make applications for and the issuance of visas as quick and easy as possible for applicants, and urges the Member States to respect the Union’s visa facilitation agreement and refrain from any unnecessary procedures;

14. Welcomes the creation of a EU-Ukraine structured visa dialogue with a view to establishing a visa free regime and stresses, in this regard, the need to define a roadmap towards visa-free travel for Ukraine, as called for by the Communication on the Eastern Partnership, to be endorsed by the Council this year; calls on Council to give the Commission a mandate, in the short term, to conclude a revision of the visa facilitation agreement with Ukraine so as to introduce the waiving all visa fees, in line with Article 14(4) of the agreement and the second step of the Mobility and Security Pact;

15. Notes that Ukraine has made significant progress in meeting its payment commitments to Russia over gas purchases and avoiding threatening the transit of gas supplies to various European countries that depend on Russian natural gas transported through Ukraine; urges the Ukrainian authorities to modernise its gas sector to ensure that this network functions in a reliable and transparent manner;

16. Calls on the Commission to provide the necessary technical assistance in order to improve radically the energy efficiency of Ukraine’s electricity grid and to step up cooperation as regards reform of the gas sector, in order to bring it into line with EU standards; asks for consistent European support for a Ukrainian strategy to reduce energy consumption and to increase energy efficiency, as the best way to reduce spending on gas and its dependency on energy imports;

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