While Commission Vice-President and High Representative for Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton is in Ukraine, holding meetings with President Viktor Yanukovych, the opposition and stakeholders, Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule, told the European Parliament that the future of the country is now at stake.
“The European Union stands ready to assist all sides in advancing such a political track. In case of a positive scenario, we will be ready to extend our assistance, based on a genuine commitment to political and economic reforms, in cooperation with the IMF and other international actors,” Fule said.
Fule said that his and Ashton’s visits to Ukraine” helped facilitate dialogue and avoid worst-case scenarios including a possible state of emergency.”
He said that parliamentarians visiting Ukraine have also reinforced these messages and added that the Commission has cooridanted with the Council of Europe and the OSCE “whose legal expertise has been instrumental in revoking the restrictive legislation which was adopted on 16 January.”
But the Commissioner said that distrust remains among the two sides.
“Opposition and protesters must dissociate themselves from radical elements,” the Commissioner said and added that the authorities must respect and protect basic freedoms.
“So far, too little has been done to this end: peaceful protesters continue to be detained, often injured, and sometimes straight out of hospitals. Kidnappings and tortures by unknown perpetrators continue unpunished,” Fule pointed out.
Fule also said that a new government in Ukraine will need to enjoy sufficient trust by all sides and that discussions on the constitution are particularly important.
The work of the Investigation Advisory Panel, as proposed by the Council of Europe, has to start immediately as a step towards addressing the current atmosphere of impunity.
He said that these steps along with electoral reform are “crucial if Ukraine wishes to keep the doors open for its political association and economic integration with the European Union.”
Meanwhile in Ukraine, with protests continuing, the parliament has been debating changes to the constitution that would curtail the president’s powers. The changes are demanded by the opposition but government MP’s are opposed to them.