The FINANCIAL — Leaders of the European Peoples Party (EPP) parliamentary groups in the European Parliament and the National Parliaments of the EU have condemned the use of brutal force against peaceful demonstrations in Kyiv, according to EU Neighbourhood Info.
“The threats of introducing the state of emergency by President Yanukovych are going against the fundamental principles of freedom of assembly and freedom of expression, therefore being in breach of universal and European values,” they said in a declaration adopted yesterday. The EPP Group is currently the largest political force in the European Parliament.
Ukraine is a neighbour and part of Europe, said EPP Group Chairman MEP Joseph Daul, adding: “I believe we must stay strong to defend the solidarity and democracy that the Ukrainians are asking for.” The Ukrainians are calling for Europe but they especially want European values, and they want to keep these values, he said: “This is why we also need to respond in all our countries, within our political parties and within our political groups that violence must not prevail in the Ukraine.”
The EPP Group Vice-Chairman responsible for relations with National Parliaments, Paulo Rangel MEP said the EPP Group was developing different tools of parliamentarian cooperation in order to better address the challenges arising in the European neighbourhood. “The European aspirations of Ukraine gathered en masse in the streets of Kyiv are sending a strong message. I want to tell these people that we are on their side,” he said.
EPP parliamentary leaders called on the European Commission to prepare a plan for generous support and swift implementation of the Association Agreement, once it’s signed, “including macroeconomic support to assist the reform process and bring Ukraine closer to achieving its European aspirations, in full compliance with standards of a democratic European state, respectful of democracy, rule of law and human rights.”
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