Brussels 10th March 2014: Following last week’s mission to Kyiv, the European Movement today welcomes the move towards the establishment of a European Movement Ukraine, whilst strongly condemning Russia’s occupation of Crimea and attacks on Ukraine’s territorial integrity.

The European Movement’s mission, headed by Jo Leinen MEP, President of the European Movement International, brought together Ukrainian civil society stakeholders who believe that Ukraine needs positive and long term solutions to bring the nation out of crisis, and closer to European values.

Jo Leinen MEP said ‘pro-European civil society actors in Ukraine have proved themselves to be both visible and impassioned. The establishment of a European Movement Ukraine will provide a structured and stable environment where European values of human rights, rule of law and democratic governance can be pursued’.

The European Movement’s mission to Ukraine concluded with a positive outlook on the future of cooperation both with and between pro-European civil societies in Ukraine. Although the discussions looked forward to Ukraine’s European future, the delegation were able to observe first-hand the multifaceted problems that the Ukrainian nation are facing today, following the Russian Federation’s decision to occupy Crimea.
Jo Leinen MEP said ‘Russia’s occupation of Crimea is an illegal and hostile act, accompanied by propaganda that promotes inter-communal hatred. Hatred that is being forcibly spurred between neighbours’.

Mr Leinen continued ‘we take this opportunity to denounce the utter farce of a referendum that has been called in Crimea. Not only is the outcome of the vote pre-written, but the Crimean administration lacks the necessary electoral register to claim any legitimacy for the outcome.’

[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 was headed by the European Movement International’s President Mr Jo Leinen MEP and consisted of European Movement representatives from Poland and the United Kingdom, as well as representatives from the Council of European Municipalities and Regions, the Union of European Federalists, AEGEE – The European Students Forum and the Young European Federalists.
Media Contact
Tomas Spragg: +32 25 08 30 85 // +32 484 86 28 69 // tomas.spragg@europeanmovement.eu