MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the situation in Ukraine
4.2.2014 - (2014/2547(RSP))
pursuant to Rule 110(2) of the Rules of Procedure
José Ignacio Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra, Elmar Brok, Mairead McGuinness, Jacek Saryusz-Wolski, Laima Liucija Andrikienė, Roberta Angelilli, Elena Băsescu, Ivo Belet, Jerzy Buzek, Arnaud Danjean, Mário David, Mariya Gabriel, Michael Gahler, Andrzej Grzyb, Gunnar Hökmark, Elisabeth Jeggle, Tunne Kelam, Andrey Kovatchev, Eduard Kukan, Vytautas Landsbergis, Krzysztof Lisek, Elżbieta Katarzyna Łukacijewska, Monica Luisa Macovei, Francisco José Millán Mon, Nadezhda Neynsky, Radvilė Morkūnaitė-Mikulėnienė, Ria Oomen-Ruijten, Alojz Peterle, Andrej Plenković, Bernd Posselt, Cristian Dan Preda, Jacek Protasiewicz, György Schöpflin, Salvador Sedó i Alabart, Bogusław Sonik, Davor Ivo Stier, Inese Vaidere, Paweł Zalewski on behalf of the PPE Group
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B7-0138/2014
The European Parliament,
– having regard to its resolution of 12 December 2013 on the outcome of the Vilnius Summit and the future of the Eastern Partnership, in particular as regards Ukraine[1],
– having regard to its resolution of 23 October 2013 on ‘the European Neighbourhood Policy: towards a strengthening of the partnership – position of the European Parliament on the 2012 reports’[2],
– having regard to its resolution of 12 September 2013 on the pressure exerted by Russia on Eastern Partnership countries (in the context of the upcoming Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius)[3],
– having regard to the Joint Declaration of the Vilnius Eastern Partnership Summit of 29 November 2013,
– having regard to the deteriorating situation in Ukraine, which developed after the decision by the Ukrainian President, Viktor Janukovych, not to sign the Association Agreement at the Vilnius Summit of 28 and 29 November 2013, resulting in the outbreak of massive popular demonstrations in support of Ukraine’s European choice at the Euromaidan in Kyiv and in cities all over Ukraine and transforming into a movement against the authorities after brutal crackdowns by the Berkut riot police,
– having regard to the resignation of Prime Minister Azarov and his government on 28 January 2014,
– having regard to the unacceptable fact of how the amnesty law adopted on 29 January 2014 made victims into hostages, without the guarantee of full and unconditional release of all those imprisoned and detained,
– having regard to the visit to Kyiv from 28 to 30 January 2014 of the ad hoc European Parliament delegation, which met with the authorities and with Euromaidan, the political opposition and church leaders and obtained a thorough and in-depth analysis of the situation in Ukraine,
– having regard to the EU-Russia Summit of 28 January 2014,
– having regard to Rule 110(2) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas the political situation in Ukraine over the past weeks has further deteriorated at an increasing pace, leading to an escalation of violence;
B. whereas despite international pressure, the Ukrainian authorities continue to pursue a policy of repression and violence against protesters, which has resulted in more than 2 000 people being injured, many people being abducted and at least five people killed;
C. whereas the popular uprising in Ukraine has reached a majority of the regions, with the administrations of ten regions being under the control of the people;
D. whereas President Yanukovych, his administration and the government are responsible for the deaths and injuries arising from the EuroMaidans;
E. whereas any forcible crackdown or declaration of a state of emergency will be considered as a criminal act and a violation of fundamental rights with profound international consequences;
F. whereas the resignation of Prime Minister Azarov and his government is a welcome first step, but only a substantial change in policy delivered by a new government will be proof of commitment to finding a solution to the current crisis;
1. Welcomes the democratic spirit and resilience of the Ukrainian people after two months of courageous protests which have met with a brutal response from the authorities, and expresses its full solidarity and support for the people’s efforts for a free, democratic, independent Ukraine and its European perspective;
2. Strongly condemns the escalation of violence against peaceful citizens, journalists, students, civil society activists, opposition politicians and clergy, and expresses its sincere condolences to the families of the victims of the violence in Ukraine;
3. Demands in particular that President Yanukovych cease the shameful practices of the Berkut riot police and other security forces of kidnapping, harassing, torturing, beating and humiliating supporters of the EuroMaidans;
4. Demands the immediate release and political rehabilitation of all Euromaidan protestors and political prisoners, including Yulia Tymoshenko;
5. Recalls the EU’s readiness to sign an AA/DCFTA with Ukraine as soon as the political crisis is overcome and the relevant requirements are met as defined by the Foreign Affairs Council of 10 December 2012 and supported by Parliament’s resolution of 13 December 2012;
6. Welcomes the fact that the anti-democratic and discriminatory laws adopted on 16 January by the Verhkovna Rada by means of farcical procedures were revoked on 28 January, but recalls that three of these 12 laws are still officially valid and might continue to be in breach of the democratic system;
7. Welcomes the dialogue started between President Yanukovych and the leaders of the EuroMaidan opposition, which it is to be hoped will lead to an imminent and peaceful resolution of the crisis;
8. Takes the view that President Yanukovych will be personally responsible before the Ukrainian people and the international community if he fails to refrain from using authoritarian methods and remedy the current political crisis;
9. Recalls that Ukraine is fully responsible for its fate, and reaffirms that the EU is ready to be involved in facilitating a solution to the current political crisis to the extent that it is needed and welcomed by the Ukrainians, through mediation which could bridge the gap of total lack of confidence between both sides;
10. Calls on the UN Security Council to urgently convene in order to consider the situation in Ukraine;
11. Calls for the EU institutions and the Member States to take immediate action, including increased diplomatic pressure and the introduction of personalised targeted measures (travel sanctions and asset and property freezes) with regard to all those Ukrainian officials and legislators and their business sponsors (oligarchs) who are responsible for the crackdowns on and deaths of protestors;
12. Calls for the EU, the US, the IMF, the World Bank, the EBRD and the EIB to continue to prepare a long-term package of concrete financial support to help Ukraine tackle its worsening financial situation and provide economic support to launch the necessary deep and comprehensive reforms of the Ukrainian economy; calls on the Ukrainian Government to be ready for such reforms;
13. Considers that, if the necessary conditions are met, a short-term support package for Ukraine should be prepared and offered to a credible interim government in order to alleviate the present tight situation in respect of payments;
14. Is of the opinion that one of the important measures for resolving the crisis in Ukraine is a return to the Constitution of 2004, which was illegally repealed in 2010 by the Constitutional Court, bypassing the Ukrainian Parliament, together with the establishment of an interim government and early elections;
15. Calls for the EU institutions and the Member States to commit to a broad opening towards Ukrainian society, in particular through a swift agreement on a visa-free travel regime, strengthened research cooperation, expanded youth exchanges and increased availability of scholarships;
16. Is of the opinion that the visa fee should be drastically reduced for young Ukrainians;
17. Calls on Russia to refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of Ukraine by applying political, economic and other coercion in breach of the Helsinki Final Act and the 1994 Budapest Memorandum concerning Ukraine’s security; believes that failing to contribute to a non-violent solution will harm the spirit of peace, dialogue and reconciliation of the Sochi Olympic Games;
18. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign and Security Policy, the Member States, the President of Ukraine, the Ukrainian Government, the Verkhovna Rada, the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly, and the Parliamentary Assemblies of the Council of Europe and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
- [1] Texts adopted, P7_TA(2013)0595.
- [2] Texts adopted, P7_TA(2013)0446.
- [3] Texts adopted, P7_TA(2013)0383.