Ukraine election: The door to Europe is still open

Commenting on the parliamentary elections in Ukraine, Werner Schulz, Green Member of the European Parliament and Member of the EU-Ukraine Cooperation committee, said:

"The Sunday election was maybe more or less free but certainly not fair. Systematic violations of international standards took place in the preliminary stages of the election. President Victor Yanukovych did everything in his power to keep his 'Party of the Regions' as the most powerful, enabling him to maintain his own powerful position. The massive use of administrative resources in the public administration and state media, the broad exclusion of opposition members from the regional election commissions and the hindrance and intimidation of opposition candidates during the election campaign are serious violations. Further, the state-controlled justice system ensured that two of the most important opposition leaders, Yulia Tymoshenko and Juri Luzenko, were excluded from the election and will remain behind bars.

There are however some encouraging signs: Vitali Klitchko's new UDAR party emerged as a new power with an untarnished reputation unconnected to any corruption or patronage and which could provide a fresh boost to the opposition. Nevertheless, the growing support for parties on the far right and left of the political spectrum is crucial and could further exacerbate an already divided society.

Further cooperation and the future of the association agreement are now the main focus for the European Union with regard to the Ukraine. There has been good progress on some reforms and these, together with events on election day, are steps in the right direction. The door to Europe is still open to the Ukraine. But the agreement will work only as a package deal - smoother economic relations and free trade must be based on democracy and the rule of law. But the Ukraine's commitment to the latter remains to be proven. Further reforms and the release of political prisoners are preconditions for the signing of any agreement."