MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the situation in Ukraine
5.12.2012 - (2012/2889(RSP))
pursuant to Rule 110(2) of the Rules of Procedure
Charles Tannock, Paweł Robert Kowal, Ryszard Antoni Legutko, Ryszard Czarnecki, Marek Henryk Migalski, Tomasz Piotr Poręba on behalf of the ECR Group
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B7-0544/2012
The European Parliament,
– having regard to its previous resolutions and reports on Ukraine,
– having regard to the fact that the EU and Ukraine finalised the process of initialling the association agreement, including the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement, in March 2012,
– having regard to the EU-Ukraine Action Plan on Visa Liberalisation, adopted on 22 November 2010,
– having regard to the ENP Progress Report on Ukraine, published on 15 May 2012,
– having regard to the elections to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, which took place on 28 October 2012,
– having regard to the interim reports and preliminary conclusions of the OSCE/ODIHR election observation mission to Ukraine, in particular the Statement of Preliminary Findings and Conclusions, issued on 29 October 2012 jointly with the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the European Parliament and the NATO Parliamentary Assembly,
– having regard to the joint statement on the parliamentary elections in Ukraine issued by High Representative Catherine Ashton and Commissioner Štefan Füle on 12 November 2012,
– having regard to the report of the European Parliament Election Observation Delegation to the Parliamentary Elections in Ukraine,
– having regard to the monitoring mission to Ukraine of former EP Presidents Pat Cox and Aleksander Kwaśniewski,
– having regard to Rule 110(2) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas Ukraine is a European country of strategic importance to the EU; whereas its size, resources, population and geographical location give Ukraine a distinctive position in Europe and make it a key regional actor;
B. whereas the EU remains committed to its engagement with Ukraine towards political association and economic integration;
C. whereas domestic political stability in Ukraine and internal reforms are prerequisites for the further development of relations between the EU and Ukraine;
D. whereas Ukraine is one of the founding members of the Eastern Partnership; whereas at the Warsaw Summit both the EU’s and the Eastern Partnership’s representatives reaffirmed that the Eastern Partnership was based on a community of values and on the principles of liberty, democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law;
E. whereas the OSCE/ODIHR noted in its preliminary findings and conclusions that these elections were characterised by the lack of a level playing field, caused primarily by the abuse of administrative resources, a lack of transparency in campaign and party financing, and a lack of balanced media coverage;
F. whereas some issues relating to the electoral code still remain to be addressed, with regard, in particular, to certain important recommendations made earlier by the OSCE/ODIHR and the Venice Commission;
G. whereas the Prime Minister of Ukraine recognised the shortcomings in the vote count and tabulation and called for all these problems to be remedied by amending the Electoral Code;
H. whereas a revote is being scheduled in five single-mandate districts;
I. whereas the relatively high election turnout shows a clear commitment on the part of Ukrainian society to forming part of the family of European democracies, and whereas Ukrainian society has given strong backing to the parties which support integration with the EU;
1. Welcomes Ukrainian citizens’ attachment to a democratic and pluralistic society and the fact that voters had a genuine choice between distinct parties;
2. Notes, in particular, that certain aspects of the pre-election period (the arrest of opposition political leaders, the lack of a level playing field, caused primarily by the abuse of administrative resources, cases of harassment and intimidation of candidates and electoral staff, a lack of transparency in campaign and party financing, and a lack of balanced media coverage) and the irregularities and delays in the vote count and tabulation process constituted a step backwards compared with recent national elections;
3. Notes that the process of voting and vote counting on election day has been assessed as positive, despite isolated problems;
4. Regrets that opposition leaders were prevented from standing in these elections;
5. Calls on the Ukrainian authorities to ensure that swift and determined action is taken in response to electoral complaints, as publicly undertaken by the Prime Minister;
6. Calls on Ukraine to establish a mechanism to ensure implementation of the recommendations of the OSCE/ODIHR;
7. Calls on the Ukrainian authorities to engage in constructive dialogue with the opposition;
8. Notes that four out of the five parliamentary parties have publicly declared their support for a European Agenda; urges the government and opposition forces, therefore, to act constructively and seek consensus on a reform-oriented EU agenda;
9. Stresses that the EU’s commitment to pursuing political association and economic integration with Ukraine needs to be mirrored by determined action by the Ukrainian Government and the new Parliament to consolidate the country’s democratic credentials, pursue the establishment of the rule of law, address the consequences of selective justice and vigorously pursue judicial and other critical reforms under the Association Agenda;
10. Recalls its concern regarding selective use of justice and politically motivated trials against members of the former government;
11. Underlines the importance of Parliament’s monitoring mission to Ukraine, headed by former presidents Pat Cox and Aleksander Kwaśniewski, and calls for a solution to be found to the case of Yulia Tymoshenko and those of other members of the former government;
12. Calls on the Ukrainian authorities to stop using selective justice and respect international standards as regards a fair, transparent and independent legal process;
13. Welcomes the entry into force of a new Criminal Procedure Code and calls for the continuation of judicial reforms;
14. Urges the Ukrainian authorities to continue the process of modernisation and reforms to bring the country closer to EU standards, as defined in the Association Agenda;
15. Considers that the visa liberalisation policy vis-à-vis Ukraine should be continued as a clear signal to Ukrainian citizens that the EU is seriously committed to strengthening its partnership with Ukrainian society and further developing and facilitating people-to-people contacts, in line with the renewed European Neighbourhood Policy;
16. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the European External Action Service (EEAS), the Council, the Commission, the Member States, the Ukrainian authorities and the Parliamentary Assemblies of the OSCE, the Council of Europe and NATO.