PACE urges Brussels and Kyiv to make every effort to bring Ukraine closer to EU within shortest period of time

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe supports Ukraine on its path to European integration and calls on Brussels and Kyiv to make every effort to bring Ukraine closer to the EU as soon as possible.

A relevant written declaration was adopted at the PACE plenary session in Strasbourg. The document was signed by 30 PACE members from various countries and political groups.

"We welcome the commitment of the Ukrainian authorities and the practical results achieved in the framework of the implementation of the European Union Council Conclusions of December 10, 2012 on Ukraine. It clearly demonstrates the willingness of Ukraine to sign the Association Agreement with the European Union in November 2013 at the Eastern Partnership Summit," the declaration reads.

The PACE members emphasized the importance of the fact that on February 22, 2013 the Verkhovna Rada adopted by the constitutional majority a statement on the implementation of Ukraine's aspirations for European integration and the signing of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement.

"The decree of the president of Ukraine on the pardon of the former Minister of the Interior Yuriy Lutsenko and the former Minister of the Environment Heorhiy Filipchuk signed on April 7, 2013 also confirmed the desire to honor the commitments of Ukraine, including those related to the execution of the decisions of the European Court on Human Rights. We expect further progress in the implementation of all court decisions related to Ukraine," the declaration reads.

The signatories reaffirming their support for the implementation of internal reforms in Ukraine and said they recognize that the critical moment has been reached for creating the necessary preconditions for signing the Association Agreement in 2013.

"Therefore, we call on both sides – Ukraine and the European Union – to make every effort to bring Ukraine closer to the European Union within the shortest period of time," members of the PACE said.