Ahead of today's extraordinary European Council meeting and tomorrow's European Parliament vote on the situation in Ukraine, the Socialists and Democrats Group in the European Parliament call for an even stronger EU response to the crisis in the country.
Knut Fleckenstein MEP, S&D vice-president responsible for foreign affairs, said:
"The news about the situation in the eastern parts of Ukraine, especially in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, is more and more worrying. A growing number of internally displaced Ukrainian citizens are suffering because of the insecure and volatile situation on the ground. It is deplorable that despite the ceasefire offered by the Ukrainian president in June the fighting goes on. All sides should allow humanitarian assistance to be delivered to citizens in need and allow security and protection for civilians."
During yesterday's plenary debate on the situation in Ukraine, the S&D Group in the European Parliament expressed its support for the Ukrainian president's peace plan and the efforts by the OSCE (the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe) to monitor the situation and to help defuse tensions. A resolution on Ukraine will be voted in plenary tomorrow.
"We call on everyone involved to stop the violence and to contribute to finding a lasting political solution. No sustainable solution to the crisis will be achieved by military means. Therefore, the Ukrainian government must get as much support as possible for its peace plan and its initiatives to start an inclusive national dialogue that respects the interests of Ukrainian citizens in all parts of the country.
"While signing the remaining chapters of the EU-Ukraine association agreement will facilitate EU support for Ukraine's reforms in areas such as democracy, the rule of law and fundamental freedoms, the country is first and foremost in urgent need of security and stability. Not only should the EU be willing to lend its full support, for instance by establishing the planned EU Common Security and Defence Policy mission, but Russia should also assume responsibility for pacifying the situation in the eastern parts of Ukraine. This could be done by stopping the influx of weapons and mercenaries via the Russian-Ukrainian border or by using its influence over separatist groups in order to persuade them to lay down their arms. Russia is a necessary partner for seeking a sustainable solution to this crisis."
S&D vice-president Victor Boştinaru underlined that the EU needs to focus on the energy issue, and the solution cannot be what Austria and Hungary are trying to put forward (allusion to the South Stream), but an alternative source and route for more European independence.
Victor Boştinaru also questions if Russia is sincerely committed to the peace plan, considering what is still happening in Eastern Ukraine and given that as the Commissioner said, Russia is directly involved in that.
