The Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) welcomes the Final Statement and Recommendations adopted during the Sixth Meeting of the EU-Ukraine Parliamentary Association Committee (PAC), held on 20 September 2017 in Dnipro, Ukraine, and co-chaired by Dariusz Rosati on behalf of the European Parliament and Mykola Kniazhytskyi on behalf of the Parliament of Ukraine.
In its Statement strongly condemning the steps undertaken by the Russian authorities and their proxies to integrate the occupied territories of Eastern Ukraine with the Russian Federation and expressing dismay at the further deterioration of the human rights situation in Crimea, PAC voiced support for the EU not only to prolong existing sanctions but also to impose additional ones on the Russian Federation.
Strongly disagreeing with the Russian proposition regarding a UN peace-keeping mission, PAC took the view that such a peace-keeping mission: should be launched on invitation of Ukraine and in coordination with Ukrainian authorities; can in no way establish a de facto border along the contact line; must have access to the whole territory of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine temporarily not controlled by the Ukrainian government, including full access to the Ukrainian-Russian border; and cannot include soldiers and staff of the occupying country, namely the Russian Federation.
Indicating that it is of the firm opinion that the construction of the Nord Stream 2 project is detrimental to European security, European energy security and European climate policy, PAC called on the European Commission and European Council to ensure that this project does not go ahead.
PAC expressed satisfaction about the recent major achievements in EU-Ukraine relations, namely the entry into force of both the visa-free regime on 11 June 2017 and of the Association Agreement on 1 September 2017, and pointed out that Ukraine has a European perspective pursuant to Article 49 of the Treaty on European Union, which deals with state membership applications into the EU.
Highlighting that impressive reform efforts have been made by the Ukrainian authorities since 2014, PAC emphasized the crucial importance of judicial sector reform at all levels.
PAC supported the initiative to establish a broad investment package (“Marshall Plan for Ukraine”) to boost implementation of difficult reforms and economic growth.
“The Ukrainian World Congress welcomes the EU-Ukraine Parliamentary Association Committee Final Statement and Recommendations fully supporting Ukraine’s territorial integrity and Euro‑integration process,” noted UWC President Eugene Czolij.
