The European Parliament (EP) is preparing to adopt a new resolution critical of Ukraine. This time, the EP may require the government to suspend the EU negotiations on an association agreement (SA) to solve the accumulated problems. Now in Brussels, held talks to ease the phrase, but the refusal of Kiev to meet EU legislation on the issue of humanization can not play in favor of Ukraine. In the EP claim to have received signals from Kiev that Art. 365 of the Criminal Code will not be decriminalized, and the leader of the «Fatherland» Yulia Tymoshenko is not released.
Another resolution the EP is planned, dedicated to the negotiations on EU-Ukraine Association Agreement. This document may be crucial for further negotiations on the CA. Part of the EU member states, especially Germany, in favor of rejection of the initialling of the CA in the deterioration of democracy in Kiev. But as the final position of the EU has not been determined, the opinion of the European Parliament can be decisive. The next committee meeting on Thursday at the EP's foreign policy will be approved text of the resolution, which is likely to remain unchanged until the vote at the plenary session of the EP on December 1.
Available Kommersant-Ukraine was discussed with the European Parliament draft resolution amendments. Previously it was assumed that this document is addressed not Ukraine and the EU institutions will be relatively neutral to the same October 27 in the wake of disturbances sentence Yulia Tymoshenko has already taken a critical EP resolution. However, the documents show that the new resolution can also be very tough.
The text will refer to the court decision in the case of the former prime minister, although the wording of this item is not compatible. European People's Party (EPP; partner «Fatherland» in the European Parliament) proposes to state «an act of revenge» of the current Ukrainian authorities against Tymoshenko. But the most important are amendments relating to the timing initialling, signature and entry into force of the Association Agreement.
In the original version of the resolution, prepared by a Pole, a member of the European conservatives and reformers (ERC) by Richard Legutko, it is assumed that the European Parliament recommends that the European Commission, the foreign service and the advice of the EU «to reach an early agreement on association — not later than the end of 2011» . However, to date, a number of political groups do not agree with this wording. In the EP recorded a few suggestions: delete the item or append stringent conditions.
For example, MEPs Elmar Brok (EPP Group, Germany) proposed an amendment which would allow for the completion of negotiations with Ukraine, «only on condition that the requirements of the resolution dated October 27, will be fulfilled.» The proposals of the EPP stresses that the mandatory requirement is to review the sentence of Yulia Tymoshenko. The same conditions are put forward to articles about the necessity of signing CA in the first half of 2012 and its transfer to the ratification by the end of 2012.
EPP tough stance has not changed even stated in a recent letter to European politicians personal request of Yulia Tymoshenko — not to tie its conclusion with the European integration of Ukraine and not to block the introduction of CA into action. Partners in the EP Tymoshenko explained that the compelled to sanctions against Ukraine, despite the appeal of their comrade. «How can we support the authoritarian regime in Ukraine? How can we ignore the harassment of the opposition and restrictions on freedom of speech? Ukraine has to change!» — Outraged MEPs Michael Haler (EPP, Germany).
EPP initiative supported by the representatives of other political groups. «The probability of adoption of this amendment is quite high,» — regretfully acknowledged companion «b» in the EP, opposing the nomination of additional conditions initialling CA. However, the EP is no guaranteed majority support the suspension of negotiations with Ukraine. Poles that are part of the EPP, a group of cooperating with the ERC and the Party of Regions of the Social Democrats (SD) advocated the continuation of the integration of Kiev in the EU, although they acknowledge there are problems with democracy in Ukraine.
«The European Parliament, of course, condemns as bad does your legal system, but you can not put a historical process in dependence on the current situation. I believe that the association of Ukraine and the EU will help your country to overcome past negative trends,» — said Marek Siwiec (SD, Poland). "Brock needs to release the condition Tymoshenko signed an association agreement, although she requests otherwise and said that the contract will help the establishment of democracy. It seems that is not the problem, and some ulterior motives that have guided Germany to the EU Council and the German MPs in the EP ", — said the other deputy, who requested anonymity.
The parties in the EP noted that the amendment Elmar Brok can be mitigated to achieve consensus between the factions — now talks about this being. However, any statement, which will be requesting the release of Yulia Tymoshenko seems to lead to failure of the initialling of the agreement — even partners the Party of Regions in Brussels do not believe in the possibility of early release of former prime minister. «We have received quite clear signals that article 365 would not be decriminalized, at least for now. Besides, there are other criminal cases against Tymoshenko,» — said the representative of the EP, to communicate directly with the Ukrainian leadership.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry also prepared to act in circumstances in which the Yulia Timoshenko has been released and will not be able to take part in elections. «The first wave of indignation passed, now the voltage drops. Europeans will have to understand that the Ukraine should cooperate in this situation,» — said the representative informed the Foreign Ministry.
It is unclear what will be further action by the EU. In Brussels, still hoping to release the leader of «Fatherland» and its admission to the campaign, said a senior EU foreign service. European diplomats admitted that the decision will be taken the Ukrainian government in 2012, closer to the start of the election campaign. It is also unknown whether held in this year's delayed visit of Viktor Yanukovych in Brussels. Ukraine-EU summit, scheduled for December 19, likely will not be canceled, «will not happen again if something extraordinary», say the sides.
Sergey Sidorenko