The EU is disappointed: in Ukraine there is corruption and oligarchs in power
On Monday, the EU Foreign Affairs Committee considered a report on the implementation of the association agreement between Ukraine and the EU, which entered into force two years ago.
The report was presented by a member of the European Parliament, a member of the European People's Party on the implementation of the Association Agreement with Ukraine, Michael Galer, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports with reference to a press release on the website of the European Parliament.
“Ukraine has made progress towards European integration with important achievements in the first electoral period after the “Revolution of Dignity”. Since the signing of the Association Agreement in 2014, Ukraine has implemented more pro-European reforms than in all previous years of Ukrainian independence, but additional efforts are needed, and public support for modernization and reforms is suffering. The deterioration of social conditions, the continued power of oligarchs and the persistence of endemic corruption in public institutions are disappointing,” Galer said when presenting the report.
MEPs praised Ukraine's cooperation in the energy sector and its achievements in the field of energy efficiency, while emphasizing the need to continue reforms, especially in the gas and electricity markets.
“As the country plays a decisive role in the European energy network, MPs condemn the construction of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline as it is a political project that poses a threat to European energy security. Therefore, they are calling for its cancellation,” the press release says.
The report emphasizes that Ukraine's top priority should be the fight against corruption, solving problems with the power of the oligarchy and continuing decentralization reform.
European MPs also expressed regret that the current judicial system remains ineffective, corrupt and politically dependent, but supported efforts to resolve this issue. Judges and prosecutors should be chosen transparently and very reliably, the report says.
European MPs also expressed concern about human rights violations in Ukraine and strongly condemned the growing number of physical attacks on activists and journalists, as well as violence against members of the Roma and LGBT communities.
“The report on Ukraine was adopted by 41 votes to 9, with one abstention. It will be put to a vote during the December plenary meeting of all chambers in Strasbourg,” the release said.
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