EU-Ukraine

The Ukrainian parliament today postponed a decision on the medical treatment of imprisoned opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko, while five additional opposition politicians in Ukraine were also charged. Commenting on these developments, and their implications for the EU's Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius, at which a decision on an EU-Ukraine Association Agreement was expected, Greens/EFA co-president Rebecca Harms said:

"This latest development is a very clear setback for the prospects of signing an EU-Ukraine Association Agreement. The postponement of a decision on Yulia Tymoshenko at this time appears to be a provocation to the EU and, in particular, the European Parliament, which has actively intervened to seek the release of Tymoshenko for medical treatment. All the more so given Parliament's special delegation to Ukraine (Pat Cox and Alexander Kwasniewski) was at the Ukrainian parliament today. The announcement that five new opposition politicians will also face charges shows that the EU's call to end the selective justice in the country is not taken seriously. This will weigh heavily on the Vilnius Summit later this month.

"While the conclusion of an Association Agreement with Ukraine is clearly central to the interests of both parties, it cannot come at any price. The EU cannot give way. The release or at least the treatment of Tymoshenko in Germany was always a precondition for signing the agreement. When they meet on Monday, EU foreign ministers must send a clear signal to Ukraine that the government in Kiev must clearly commit to the rule of law. Only if all terms and conditions are met, can the agreement can be signed."

The European Parliament's special delegation to Ukraine - former EP president Pat Cox and former Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski - will tonight report to the leaders of the European Parliament's political groups on their mission in Kiev.