European Parliament resolution on the forthcoming presidential elections in Ukraine
Date: 2004-10-28
Institutions: European Parliament
Subjects: European neighbourhood policy, Ukraine, election campaign, freedom of assembly, freedom of expression, political situation, political violence, presidential election

14.7.2005

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Thursday 28 October 2004

6.
Expresses its condolences to the family of Vieronika Cherkasova, paying tribute to an important per-
sonality who encouraged freedom of information; urges the Belarussian authorities to investigate this crime
seriously and prosecute the murderer and the instigators of this act;

Is of the opinion that the way in which these elections and the referendum were conducted and the
7.
subsequent violent attacks on political opponents of the regime are the expression of a further step towards
the establishment by President Lukashenko of an almost dictatorial regime in Belarus;

Expresses its solidarity with all Belarussians who strive for an independent, democratic Belarus based

8.
on the rule of law, as a member of the European community of nations;

9.
Expresses its conviction that the policy of the European Union towards Belarus after the referendum
and the elections must be urgently reviewed in the light of these events and that appropriate changes must
be implemented;

10.
Calls on the Commission, the Council and the governments of the Member States to continue and
wherever possible to reinforce their policy of isolation of President Lukashenko and the members of his
regime until clear steps are taken which demonstrate their willingness to respect democratic values and the
rule of law;

11.
Urges the Commission, the Council and the governments of the Member States to draw up an Action
Plan for further ways to increase — together with other democratic countries and international institutions
— support for all remaining democratic forces in Belarus and to assist more effectively those people in
Belarussian civil society working for democratic change in Belarus, by reconsidering the EU financial instru-
ments for that country;

Calls, in particular, on the Commission to urgently investigate the possibility of supporting neutral
12.
broadcasting to the citizens of Belarus and the creation of a special educational programme which would
grant scholarships for young people and students from Belarus who would like to study in the European
Union, and financial support for academic institutions that are prepared to host students from Belarus;

13.
Calls on the Council to decide on a set of targeted sanctions against members of the Belarussian
regime, including an expansion of the visa prohibition regulation for the authorities of Belarus, including
those responsible for the serious election violations, together with increased material support through
humanitarian and economic aid to the municipalities which oppose the regime;

14.
Calls on the Presidency-in-Office to include the situation in Belarus on the agenda for the forthcom-
ing EU-Russia summit on 11 November 2004 in The Hague, in the light of the close relations between the
two countries;

15.
Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Governments
and Parliaments of the Member States, the Government and Parliament of Belarus and the Parliamentary
Assemblies of the OSCE and of the Council of Europe.

P6_TA(2004)0046

Forthcoming elections in Ukraine

European Parliament resolution on the forthcoming presidential elections in Ukraine

The European Parliament,

— having regard to its previous resolutions on Ukraine,

— having regard, in particular, to its resolution on Ukraine adopted on 11 March 2004 (1),

(1) Texts adopted, P5_TA(2004)0185.

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— having regard to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Communities and

their Member States, and Ukraine (1), which entered into force on 1 March 1998,

— having regard to European Council Common Strategy 1999/877/CFSP on Ukraine (2), adopted by the

European Council in Helsinki on 11 December 1999,

— having regard to the Final Statement and Recommendations of the EU-Ukraine Parliamentary Coop-

eration Committee of 16 and 17 February 2004,

— having regard to the Communication from the Commission of 12 May 2004 on the European Neigh-

bourhood Policy (COM(2004)0373),

— having regard to the Joint Statement of the Ukraine-European Union Summit of 8 July 2004 in The

Hague,

— having regard to the declaration of the Presidency on behalf of the European Union on the forthcoming

elections and media freedom in Ukraine,

— having regard to the interim statements of the long-term international election observer mission in

Ukraine,

— having regard to its decision to send an ad hoc delegation to observe the conduct of the elections,

— having regard to Rule 103(4) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas the EU's European Neighbourhood Policy acknowledges Ukraine's European aspirations and
recognises the importance of Ukraine as a key neighbour and strategic partner with deep historical,
cultural and economic links to the Member States of the EU,

B. whereas within the framework of this European Neighbourhood policy an Action Plan is being pre-
pared, which should include proposals aimed at encouraging the political and institutional reforms
which will enable Ukraine to integrate progressively in EU policies and programmes,

C. pointing out that a genuine and balanced partnership can only develop on the basis of shared common
values and standards with regard, in particular, to democracy, the rule of law and respect for human
rights,

D. whereas elections for the Presidency of Ukraine will take place on 31 October 2004 with a possible

second round taking place on 21 November 2004,

E. whereas these elections will provide an unambiguous test of the extent of the Ukrainian authorities'

commitment to implementing common European values and standards,

F. whereas genuinely free and fair elections require a period of political campaigning conducted in an
environment in which neither administrative action nor violence, intimidation or detention by the law
enforcement or security forces prevent the parties and the candidates from presenting their views to the
citizenry, including conducting public meetings and enjoying unimpeded access to television (in par-
ticular to State-owned nationwide TV channels), radio, print and Internet media on a non-discrimina-
tory basis,

G. whereas as election day draws closer the climate surrounding the electoral campaign is becoming more

tense by the day and the campaign itself is increasingly polarised,

H. having regard to the mass demonstrations which took place in Kiev and other Ukrainian towns on

Saturday 23 October 2004 calling for free and fair elections,

I. whereas national and international observers have noted many cases of involvement of the State admin-
istration in favour of the incumbent Prime Minister, Mr Yanukovych, and against his main challenger,
Mr Yushchenko,

(1) OJ L 49, 19.2.1998, p. 3.
(2) OJ L 331, 23.12.1999, p. 1.

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J. whereas efforts by State officials and State bodies to impose obstacles to free assembly, free speech and
free and fair political campaigning have taken place in several constituencies in Ukraine without con-
demnation or remedial action by the Ukrainian Government,

K. whereas there are serious allegations that the Government of Ukraine has used broadcasting media as
well as administrative State and regional resources, including personnel, to bolster the campaign of one
presidential candidate, seriously compromising the political neutrality of the civil service and contraven-
ing Ukrainian law,

L. whereas the Ukrainian secret service has launched a terrorism investigation against the pro-opposition
student group Pora and has raided the organisation's Kiev offices and arrested several of its members;
whereas Pora activists in other Ukrainian cities have repeatedly complained of harassment and beatings
by the police,

1.
Underlines the importance of a further reinforced relationship between the EU and Ukraine and con-
firms the need to work together to contribute to increased stability, security and prosperity on the European
continent, and to avoid the emergence of new dividing lines;

Expresses its strong and continuing support for the efforts of the Ukrainian people to establish a fully

2.
functioning democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights in Ukraine;

3.
Stresses that the forthcoming elections and, in particular, observance of international standards for
democratic rules during the electoral process are of the greatest importance for the further development
of relations between Ukraine and the European Union;

Expresses its deep disappointment at the conduct to date of Ukraine's presidential election campaign
4.
and urges the Government of Ukraine to meet its commitments in this respect as enshrined by the Council
of Europe and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE);

Urges the Ukrainian authorities to put an end to the ongoing violations of democratic procedures, to
5.
permit voters to make their choices freely and to ensure the freedom of candidates, members of opposition
parties and independent media organisations from intimidation or harassment by government officials at all
levels;

Strongly condemns the violent and discriminatory attacks by the secret service and other police units

6.
on the student group Pora and its members;

Insists that there should be no interference in the examination of electoral disputes by the courts and

7.
that judges should be given appropriate training in electoral law;

8. Welcomes the Government of Ukraine's undertaking to enable domestic and international observers to
monitor the elections and to guarantee them unobstructed access to all aspects of the election process
including unimpeded access to public campaign events, candidates, news media, voting, and post-election
tabulation of results and processing of election challenges and complaints;

9.
Strongly calls upon the Council and the Commission to make full use of their resources to ensure that
all necessary conditions for holding free and fair elections in Ukraine are met, and stresses the need to
seriously re-examine the bilateral relationship in the event of the election indeed being tainted by significant
fraud;

Calls on the Commission to include measures aimed at strengthening Ukrainian civil society in the

10.
Neighbourhood Policy action plan;

11.
Pledges its continuing support and assistance to the Ukrainian people's establishment of a free and
open democratic system, their creation of a prosperous market economy and their country's assumption of
its rightful place in the European community of democratic nations;

12.
Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Secretary Gen-
eral of the Council of Europe, the Secretary General of the OSCE, the Director of the OSCE's Office for
Democratic Institutions and Human Rights and the Government, President and Parliament of Ukraine.