The European Parliament adopted by 489 votes to 36, with 49 abstentions, the resolution on the preparation of the EU-Ukraine Summit.
The text adopted in plenary was tabled by the EPP, S&D, Renew, Green/EFA and ECR groups.
The 24th EU-Ukraine Summit is due to take place on 3 February 2023 in Kyiv. This summit provides a prime opportunity not only to discuss the situation on the ground and Ukraine’s current priorities, but also to take action needed for Ukraine to continue its reform effort as well as its effective alignment with EU membership criteria.
Ukraine’s EU membership
The EU-Ukraine Association Agreement in force since 2014 has already led to a substantial intensification of political dialogue and to the strengthening of political association and economic integration and has opened up new prospects for sectoral cooperation. In 2022, the Council invited the Commission to prepare a roadmap outlining the next steps to ease Ukraine’s access to the EU single market. The Commission published its opinion on Ukraine’s application for EU membership and recommended granting EU candidate status to Ukraine on the understanding that certain reform measures such as on the rule of law and the fight against corruption be taken.
The resolution recalled that there is no ‘fast-track’ for EU membership, and accession remains a complex, merit-based and structured process and requires effective implementation of reforms and the transposition of the acquis. While each country’s progress on the path to accession is assessed on its own merit and that of its reform process, Parliament stated however, that does not exclude a fast start to the process as a manifestation of the EU’s commitment to Ukraine in the new geopolitical context created by the Russian aggression.
Ukraine is invited to unambiguously demonstrate their political determination to act on the European ambitions of their people by significantly enhancing progress with substantial reforms in order to effectively fulfil the criteria for EU membership as soon as possible. In this respect, the resolution highlighted the need to protect the independence of all anti-corruption institutions, enhance media freedom, strengthen the efficiency and accountability of the judiciary, address the shortcomings in the functioning of law enforcement bodies and ensure political and party pluralism both within and outside Ukraine’s Parliament. It should also refrain from passing legislation that is not compatible with the EU acquis or that endangers achievements in the reform process and the fight against corruption.
Upcoming EU-Ukraine Summit
The Summit should:
- prioritise the need for an EU comprehensive recovery package for Ukraine, which should be focused on the country’s immediate, medium- and long-term relief, reconstruction and recovery;
- establish a clear and transparent mechanism for involving Ukrainian civil society in key decision-making processes, and for continued support for civil society;
- work towards the start of accession negotiations and to support a roadmap outlining the next steps to enable Ukraine’s accession to the EU single market, focusing on providing tangible benefits for Ukrainian society and citizens from the start of the process, based on a step-by-step approach.
Tougher EU action
Parliament reiterated its call to identify a proper legal base to allow the use of frozen Russian Central Bank assets, as well as assets of Russian oligarchs, to finance the reconstruction of Ukraine. Moreover, Parliament called for the list of individuals and entities targeted by the sanctions to be expanded to include Russian companies still present on EU markets, such as Lukoil and Rosatom.
The Council is also called on to enlarge the list of individuals sanctioned to include individuals from the list proposed by Alexey Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation and Parliament also called for a ban on the direct or indirect import, purchase or transfer of diamonds, whether in raw or processed form, originating from the Russian Federation.
The resolution reiterated its call for an immediate and full embargo on imports of fossil fuels and uranium from Russia, and for the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines to be completely abandoned. Restrictive measures against Belarus should be strengthened according to Parliament.
The Council is urged, in cooperation with international partners, to decrease the price cap on oil that originates in or is exported from Russia.
The EU is called on to:
- provide Ukraine with all necessary political, military, economic, infrastructure-related, financial and humanitarian support;
- support the 10-point peace plan presented by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and to work towards establishing an international coalition to implement that plan and to engage with Ukraine on the topic of future security guarantees;
- strengthen the international isolation of Russia, including with regard to its membership in international organisations and bodies to refrain from holding any formal events on the territory of the Russian Federation, reducing the level of diplomatic relations with Moscow;
- take a leading role and actively support the establishment of a special tribunal to investigate and prosecute Russia’s crime of aggression against Ukraine, as well as of an international register of damage;
- work strategically and to proactively counter hybrid threats and to prevent Russia’s interference in political, electoral and other democratic processes in Ukraine and beyond, in particular malicious acts aimed at manipulating public opinion and undermining European integration;
- increase resilience against disinformation and disruptive campaigns designed to undermine democratic processes and create divisions in Ukraine.