New laws have been adopted to pave the way for financial assistance from the EU and the IMF for a €80 million support package to fight COVID-19 in Ukraine. Humanitarian and medical assistance in Ukraine’s conflict-affected areas is crucial. This is a strong sign of EU solidarity with Ukraine.
The support for Ukraine’s battle against the Chinese Wuhan virus was pledged by leading MEPs in a statement on EU-Ukraine relations and the long-awaited reforms recently adopted by the Verkovna Rada.
“We welcome the adoption this week of the land reform by the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament) and look forward to the adoption of the banking law in its second reading. These are important reforms, which pave the way for much-needed loans from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and for macro-financial assistance from the EU. Furthermore, we strongly support all efforts by the Ukrainian Parliament and its Members in their fight against corruption at all levels and will follow, very closely, all developments in this respect.”
“We also note the Verkhovna Rada’s decision to send the draft law amending the 2020 national budget proposals back to the lead Committee. It is an occasion to address the socio-economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic for the Ukrainian population, as well as secondary effects, such as mounting disinformation. In this context, a fully resourced public broadcaster is more essential than ever, to provide citizens with reliable information and report on any disinformation campaigns.“
“In these times of crisis, we stand by Ukraine as our close neighbour and partner. The adoption of a support package of around €80 million to help Ukraine cope with the COVID-19 pandemic is a tangible sign of the European Union’s solidarity with the Ukrainian people. EU support should also allow the provision of all essential health equipment in the conflict-affected areas. In this respect, we call on the Russian Federation to exert influence on the armed formations it backs, so that humanitarian organisations, including the International Committee of the Red Cross, can be granted full access and can assess the needs of health providers in these areas. On the basis of this assessment, all necessary practical humanitarian assistance and medical capacities should be provided to help relieve the suffering of all Ukrainians affected by the conflict.”
“We reiterate our commitment to the EU sanctions linked to all violations of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity by the Russian Federation. The current exceptional situation does not justify in any way a lifting of sanctions, unless substantial steps are taken to allow Ukraine to recover full control over its territory. In this respect, we strongly condemn the Russian presidential decree, which includes most of Crimea and Sevastopol on the list of territories of the Russian Federation in which non-Russian citizens are prevented from owning land.”
The statement was co-signed by: David McAllister (EPP, DE), Chair of the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Witold Waszczykowski (ECR, PL), Chair of the European Parliament Delegation to the EU-Ukraine Parliamentary Association Committee, Michael Gahler (EPP, DE), European Parliament Standing rapporteur on Ukraine, Viola Von Cramon-Taubadel (The Greens/EFA, DE), Vice-Chair of the European Parliament Delegation to the EU-Ukraine Parliamentary Association Committee, and Traian Băsescu (EPP, RO), Vice-Chair of the European Parliament Delegation to the EU-Ukraine Parliamentary Association Committee
