Ukraine urged to accelerate reform before the Vilnius summit
Minister for Europe says Ukraine must deliver more reform to secure signature of Association Agreement with the EU.
Rt Hon David Lidington MP
Speaking today following a debate in Parliament on the Ukraine Association Agreement, the Minister for Europe reiterated UK support for a closer EU-Ukraine relationship and the Association Agreement. He said that the EU has done its part to prepare for signature of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement; Ukraine must act now to deliver on reform.
Noting that Ministers had yet to reach a decision on whether to sign an Association Agreement with Ukraine at the Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius on 28 to 29 November, the Rt Hon David Lidington MP urged Ukraine to make the most of the remaining few weeks before Vilnius to demonstrate a strong commitment to deep and sustained reform.
The Minister recognised that Ukraine had made progress on reform in the last few months. Mr Lidington told MPs that he was pleased to learn that the Ukrainian parliament had passed at first reading key legislation to reform the General Prosecutor’s Office and amend electoral law. He noted that the coming week presented an opportunity to complete work on adopting these laws – in line with European standards – in the Ukrainian parliament.
The Minister emphasised that Ukraine still had more to do to demonstrate tangible progress, including on electoral and judicial reform, improving the business climate, and introducing anti discrimination legislation. He was clear that convincing responses to EU concerns on selective justice in Ukraine were crucial to ensuring that EU governments arrived at the Vilnius Summit confident that the time had come to sign the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement.