MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the situation in Ukraine
25.2.2014 - (2014/2595(RSP))
pursuant to Rule 110(2) of the Rules of Procedure
José Ignacio Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra, Elmar Brok, Mairead McGuinness, Jacek Saryusz-Wolski, Roberta Angelilli, Sophie Auconie, Elena Băsescu, Ivo Belet, Jerzy Buzek, Arnaud Danjean, Mário David, Anne Delvaux, Mariya Gabriel, Michael Gahler, Andrzej Grzyb, Gunnar Hökmark, Tunne Kelam, Andrey Kovatchev, Jan Kozłowski, Eduard Kukan, Krzysztof Lisek, Elżbieta Katarzyna Łukacijewska, Monica Luisa Macovei, Francisco José Millán Mon, Nadezhda Neynsky, Radvilė Morkūnaitė-Mikulėnienė, Ria Oomen-Ruijten, Alojz Peterle, Bernd Posselt, Cristian Dan Preda, Jacek Protasiewicz, György Schöpflin, Salvador Sedó i Alabart, Davor Ivo Stier, Dubravka Šuica, Inese Vaidere, Laima Liucija Andrikienė on behalf of the PPE Group
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B7-0219/2014
The European Parliament,
– having regard to its previous resolutions on the European Neighbourhood Policy, on the Eastern Partnership (EaP) and on Ukraine, with particular reference to its resolution of 6 February 2014 on the situation in Ukraine[1],
– having regard to the conclusions of the extraordinary meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council on Ukraine of 20 February 2014,
– having regard to Rule 110(2) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas since the Ukrainian Government’s decision to suspend the signing of the Association Agreement, hundreds of thousands of people have spontaneously taken to the streets all over the country to demonstrate in favour of European integration; whereas in Kyiv the demonstrators have been peacefully occupying Independence Square, calling for strong political change with a view to making the government review its decision;
B. whereas the authorities under President Yanukovych crossed a clear line by authorising the security forces to use live ammunition against the protestors and by deploying snipers on roofs in and around Maidan Square, which since late November has been the epicentre of an anti-government and pro-European protest; whereas protesters and bystanders were executed on the streets of Kiev, provoking international outrage and condemnation;
C. whereas the Foreign Ministers of France, Germany and Poland visited Kiev on behalf of the EU in an effort to mediate between President Yanukovych and the opposition with a view to a compromise solution; whereas they managed to broker an agreement on a roadmap for a peaceful and democratic exit from the crisis which put an immediate end to the bloodshed; whereas the Russian special envoy also facilitated the agreement, but without co-signing it;
D. whereas, since the beginning of ‘Euromaidan’, there have been numerous reports of ill‑treatment, kidnappings, torture and other violations of human rights; whereas the people responsible for these violations have so far enjoyed impunity;
E. whereas an ad hoc European Parliament delegation travelled to Kiev on 28-30 January 2014 and again on 22-24 February to assess the situation on the ground, thereby demonstrating Parliament’s sincere interest and true concern for the dramatic situation in the country;
1. Commends the people of Ukraine on the swift change in power and on their civic resilience in the past few months, and underlines that this civic and popular protest serves as an example and will mark a watershed in the history of Ukraine; stresses that this democratic, civic victory should not be marred by any spirit of revenge or acts of retribution towards adversaries, or by political infighting;
2. Bows its head before those who fought and died for European values and the European flag at the Maidan, and expresses its deepest condolences to the families of the victims; strongly condemns the brutal and disproportionate actions of the anti-riot forces that led to a dramatic escalation of violence;
3. Welcomes the responsible role played by the Verkhovna Rada in filling the political and institutional vacuum; takes note of the measures adopted so far by the parliament with regard, in particular, to the return to the 2004 Constitution, the decision to hold presidential elections on 25 May 2014, the decision to withdraw police and security forces, the release from prison of former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, and the appointment of an acting President and interim heads of the internal affairs ministry and security services;
4. Calls for the setting-up of an independent commission to investigate the human rights violations that have taken place since the beginning of the demonstrations, in close cooperation with the Council of Europe’s International Advisory Panel and the OSCE;
5. Urges the Commission to find ways to deploy quick, robust and direct medical and humanitarian assistance for all victims;
6. Welcomes the conclusions of the extraordinary Foreign Affairs Council of 20 February 2014, and in particular the decision to introduce targeted sanctions, including an asset freeze and a visa ban for those responsible for human rights violations, violence and the use of excessive force, as well as to suspend export licences for equipment that might be used for internal repression; urges the Member States to implement their own anti‑money-laundering legislation so as to reduce the outflow of illicit money from Ukraine;
7. Stresses that is now of paramount importance that all parties demonstrate a sense of responsibility, restraint and commitment to genuine dialogue and reconciliation, avoiding retaliation; urges all political forces to work together, at this critical juncture for Ukraine, towards a peaceful political transition, an ambitious and broad-based reform agenda and a European-standards-oriented government, to uphold the unity and territorial integrity of the country, and to facilitate compromise solutions for the future of Ukraine;
8. Takes note of the decision to hold presidential elections on 25 May 2014; underlines the need to ensure that these elections will be free and fair and in accordance with European standards; expresses its readiness to support their proper conduct and to send a robust observer mission;
9. Welcomes the release of former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko from prison;
10. Points out that widespread corruption constitutes a major issue which adversely affects the economy of Ukraine and hampers its development, while at the same time undermining the confidence of citizens in their own state and institutions; urges the new government, therefore, to give the fight against corruption and the setting-up of a truly independent and impartial judicial system top priority in its programme;
11. Reiterates that the Association Agreement is ready for signing with the new government, once the current political crisis is solved and as soon as the new government is ready;
12. Welcomes the fact that out of the three benchmarks set by the Foreign Affairs Council of 2012, the one on ending selective justice (imprisonment of Yulia Tymoshenko) has now been met, while the remaining two, on justice and the election systems, these being the main demands of the protest movement, are already the subject of profound change and reform, which will hopefully soon be completed by the new coalition government and supported by the new parliamentary majority;
13. Calls, furthermore, on the Commission to work together with the Ukrainian authorities to find ways to counterbalance the effects of the retaliatory measures adopted by Russia in order to stop the signing of the Association Agreement, as well as of possible new measures; welcomes the announcement by the EU Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs and the Euro, Olli Rehn, of the EU’s readiness to provide a substantial and ambitious (both short-term and long-term) financial aid package, once a political solution is in place based on democratic principles, a commitment to reform and the appointment of a legitimate government;
14. Expects the Council and Commission to come forward, together with the IMF, the World Bank, the EBRD and the EIB, with short-term financial assistance and a balance of payments facility, as well as a long-term package of macroeconomic support, in order to help Ukraine tackle its worsening economic and social situation and provide economic support to launch the long-awaited and necessary deep and comprehensive reforms of the Ukrainian economy, and also to organise an international donors’ conference for Ukraine; hopes the new government will be ready to move forward with the necessary reforms, especially economic ones;
15. Calls on the Council to authorise the Commission to speed up the visa dialogue with Ukraine; underlines that the swift finalisation of the visa liberalisation agreement – following the example of Moldova – between the EU and Ukraine is the best way to respond to the expectations of Ukrainian civil society and youth; calls, in the meantime, for the immediate introduction of temporary, very simple and cost-free visa procedures at EU and Member State level;
16. Calls on Russia to adopt a constructive attitude and stop retaliatory measures and undue pressure aimed at undermining the sovereign right of its neighbour to freely determine its future, so as to create the conditions for Ukraine to benefit from bilateral relations with both the EU and Russia; urges the EU and its Member States to speak to Russia with one voice in support of the European aspirations of Ukraine and other EaP countries that freely choose to deepen their relations with the EU;
17. Takes the view that the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA) provisions do not represent any commercial challenges for the Russian Federation and that the Association Agreement is no impediment to Ukraine’s good relations with its eastern neighbour; underlines that instability in the shared neighbourhood is neither in the EU’s nor in Russia’s interest; emphasises that applying political, economic or other coercion is in breach of the Helsinki Final Act and the 1994 Budapest Memorandum concerning Ukraine’s security;
18. Stresses that, according to Articles 8 and 49 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU), all European countries, including those covered by the EaP, have the long-term possibility of applying for membership of the European Union;
19. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments of the Member States, the President, Government and Parliament of Ukraine, the Council of Europe and the President, Government and Parliament of the Russian Federation.
- [1] Texts adopted, P7_TA(2014)0098.