News > Support for Pro-Europeans in Ukraine as Necessary as Sanctions
Support for Pro-Europeans in Ukraine as Necessary as Sanctions
The deplorable actions of Ukrainian authorities, in which many were killed in the crackdown against pro-European protesters in Kyiv, cannot continue to take place on the EU’s doorstep. Today’s emergency Foreign Affairs Council must agree upon targeted sanctions to help shield Ukrainian citizens against the state that has failed to protect them. Furthermore, wider support for the movement that longs for closer ties with European neighbours, must be rallied.
‘If the violence doesn’t stop, sanctions targeted at the individuals responsible for severe human-rights violations should be prepared’ stated Jo Leinen MEP, President of the European Movement International. He continued that ‘this should include restrictions on travel and the freezing of bank accounts for those responsible’.
Moreover, Ukraine is bound by its membership of the Council of Europe to defend both the virtues of freedom of expression and assembly, as well as the fundamental protection of its citizen’s lives. With the Ukrainian authorities now shooting at citizens who exercise these intrinsic rights, it is clear such fundamental membership criteria have been disregarded.
Mr Leinen, continued that ‘in light of the escalating situation in Ukraine and the death of numerous protesters, both the EU and the Council of Europe must act now and send a strong signal of support to the Ukrainians, who are fighting to exercise their fundamental rights’.
The European Movement believes that sanctions provide a short term solution to end the violence in Ukraine, but as successfully demonstrated in other countries, non-partisan civil-society organisations can help ensure that the desire for European values and standards can lead to a stable long-term attitude towards to the EU. Therefore, in light of the ongoing situation, on 6th – 8th March, a European Movement delegation will travel to Kiev to support the permanent establishment of the pro-European movement in Ukraine.
[ENDS]
Notes to Editors
1. The European Movement International (EMI) is one of the largest pan and pro-European civil society organisations with currently more than 70 Member Organisations, bringing together representatives from European associations, political parties, enterprises and trade unions. www.europeanmovement.eu
2. The delegation to establish a European Movement in Ukraine will be headed by the European Movement International’s President Mr Jo Leinen MEP and will consist of European Movement representatives from Poland and Switzerland, as well as representatives from AEGEE – The European Students Forum, SOLIDAR and the European Alliance of Active Citizenship. The delegation will meet with local EU and OSCE representatives, Polish, Swiss and German Ambassadors to Ukraine, Pro-European Foundations, local media representatives, Ukrainian Parliamentarians, grassroots political movements as well as the British, Belgian, German, US, Swiss, Norwegian and Polish chambers of commerce in Ukraine.
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