Greens group in European Parliament critical of results of EU-Ukraine summit

Co-President of the Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance in the European Parliament Rebecca Harms has said that Ukraine's leadership under President Viktor Yanukovych "is consciously frittering away the chances for an association agreement."

She said this while commenting on the results of the EU-Ukraine summit held in Brussels on Monday, the press service of the group reported.

"Instead of finally strengthening the rule of law, the situation is deteriorating," she said.

Harms noted the new charges against former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, the threats to arrest her defense lawyer, and the growing pressure on independent media in Ukraine.

"Under these conditions, the EU clearly cannot conclude an association agreement with Ukraine," she said.

The Greens foreign affairs spokesman, Werner Schulz, for his part, said that the Ukrainian political leadership must first demonstrate the will to implement the necessary reforms, if it is to prove it actually agrees to and will abide with the content of an association agreement.

"These minimal requirements, such as on the rule of law and freedom of expression, must remain fundamental preconditions for closer relations with the EU," the politician said.

At the same time, he said he believes that the EU must help Ukraine to become less dependent on Russia through energy cooperation and support for the modernization of the infrastructure. The EU should also establish the kind of visa regime that will allow more freedom and exchanges between Ukraine and the EU, he added.