EN Official Journal of the European Union C 126/1

Resolution of the Committee of the Regions — The situation in Ukraine

2014/C 126/01

THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS,

based on the report to the CoR plenary by its president of a CoR delegation visit to Kiev on 22-24 January 2014:

1. expresses its solidarity with Ukrainian people who are peacefully demonstrating in defence of the democratic values in their country, the respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms;

2. strongly condemns all violence and all form of intimidation. The use of force cannot be an answer to a political crisis. Calls on the EU institutions to react firmly against the violation of human rights and of the rule of law;

3. considers the immediate revocation of the repressive legislation adopted on 16 January 2014 that curtailed fundamental human rights and freedoms and which was in contradiction with international standards as a first step towards the reinstatement of the rule of law in Ukraine; urges the President to quickly make this effective by signing the repeal of the legislation into law;

4. calls on all political leaders at each level of government to take decisive steps to de-escalate the situation and pave the way for a peaceful solution which would grant Ukrainian citizens democracy, stability, and guarantee the independence, freedom and integrity of their country;

5. deplores the appeal of the ‘Council of the National Congress of Local Governments of Ukraine’ issued on 23 January 2014 which had endorsed the recent anti-democratic laws adopted by the national parliament;

6. calls on regional and local authorities which are partners within the CORLEAP to fight for the European perspective of Ukraine and to use their political influence at the service of the Ukrainian citizens;

7. recalls that CORLEAP has been established to facilitate dialogue between the local and regional levels of the EU and the Eastern Partnership countries and to support democracy, stability and the rule of law; undertakes to examine whether the structures in place are appropriate for these purposes and to explore the opportunities to enlarge the debate to include all relevant stakeholders;

8. stresses that democracy and the respect of human rights are prerequisites for local and regional democracy. Endorses in this regard the recommendation 348 (2013) of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe on local and regional democracy in Ukraine; supports in particular its call on the Ukrainian government to remove constitutional and legislative restrictions placed on the competences of local communities, and equip them with more financial autonomy;

9. stresses that the governing capacity of regional and local authorities in Ukraine is limited and that sources of financing are restricted by the central government. Increasing disparities amongst territories create serious risks of destabilisation of the country;

10. calls for Ukraine's full alignment with the European Charter of Local Self-Government and for administrative reforms allowing self-government to enjoy defined powers with a view to securing social, economic and territorial cohesion; proposes to regional and local authorities in Ukraine the know-how of European partners and restates its readiness to further cooperate with them in order to share experiences of good governance and territorial cooperation;

11. calls on all regions and local authorities in the EU that are on particularly good terms with and work in partnership with Ukrainian regions and local authorities to act now to strengthen those links and to offer solidarity and support to their Ukrainian partners;

12. calls on the EU and its institutions to act decisively to assist in deescalating the tension and ensure a peaceful solution is found which will fully respect the rights and freedom of the Ukrainian people;

13. is committed to provide assistance to regional and local authorities and civil society to find appropriate solutions to the crisis;

14. supports the EU's continued commitment to Ukraine's political association and economic integration based on common European values, and the EU's readiness to sign an Association Agreement; to this respect insists on the prior condition of a release of political prisoners, journalists and civil society activists, including Yulia Tymoshenko, whose imprisonment are incompatible with the norms and standards on justice and the rule of law enshrined within the European Convention on Human Rights and the relevant EU legislation;

15. instructs the President of the Committee of the Regions to submit this resolution to the President of the European Parliament, the President of the European Council, the President of the European Commission, the Greek Presidency of the EU and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.