EP urges to develop major assistance plan for Ukraine

The European Parliament said that the Association Agreement between Ukraine and EU should constitute the roadmap for swift necessary reforms that need to be urgently implemented, despite the difficult war environment in parts of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions.

This follows from the recently EP approved resolution on Ukraine.

The document stresses swifter and more substantial technical assistance for Ukraine.

The MEPs urged the Ukrainian authorities to set up an EU Integration and Assistance Coordination Ministry or Office, and a high-level interministerial coordination committee which would be vested with powers to effectively monitor and supervise the progress of EU approximation and reforms and would be able to prepare and coordinate their implementation.

"[The European parliament] strongly believes that an ambitious anti-corruption programme, including zero tolerance for corruption, is urgently needed in Ukraine; calls on the Ukrainian leadership to eradicate systematic corruption by immediate and effective implementation of the National Strategy against Corruption," reads the document.

Moreover, the EP welcomed the request by Ukraine to Interpol and the issuing of an arrest warrant against former President Yanukovych on charges of embezzlement of public funds.

The MEPs noted that on 16 July, 2014 the Council of the European Union lifted the arms embargo on Ukraine, and that there are thus now no objections or legal restrictions to prevent Member States from providing defensive arms to Ukraine.

The EP believes EU should explore ways to support the Ukrainian Government in enhancing its defense capabilities and the protection of Ukraine's external borders, based on the experience of the transformation of the armed forces of the former Warsaw Pact EU Member States, especially within the framework of training missions already provided for armed forces in other parts of the world; supports the existing delivery of non-lethal equipment.

They noted the adoption of a law that abolishes the 'non-aligned status' of the state.

According to the document, the EP supports the position of President Poroshenko that Ukraine now urgently needs to focus on political, economic and social reforms and that NATO accession is an issue that should be put to the people's judgment in an all-Ukrainian referendum at a later stage.

Besides, the resolution also stresses the importance of a commitment by the international community to support economic and political stabilization and reform in Ukraine and invites the Commission and the Member States to develop a major assistance plan for Ukraine based on 'more for more' and conditionality, and to step up their efforts in rendering assistance to Ukraine by, inter alia, organizing a donor/ investment conference and cooperating with international financial institutions in order to define further steps for addressing the economic and financial recovery of Ukraine.

It welcomes the EUR 11 billion support package for Ukraine to be disbursed over the next few years, as well as the proposal by the Commission to extend an additional EUR 1.8 billion in medium-term loans.

The MEPs also called for the resumption of a genuine and inclusive national dialogue that could also lead to a solution for the payment of social allowances and pensions and the provision of humanitarian assistance by the Ukrainian Government to the conflict-zone population.

It is of crucial importance to impartially and effectively investigate all major moments of violence, including those of Maidan, Odesa, Mariupol, Slovyansk, and Ilovaysk, the document said.

They also welcomed the decision by the French government to halt the delivery of the Mistral helicopter carriers.

Furthermore, the resolution reiterates EP support for the international investigation into the circumstances of the tragic downing of Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17, and reiterates its call for those responsible to be brought to justice.