The ALDE Congress

The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, convening in London, Great Britain, on 28 30 of November 2013:

Whereas:

•The Ukrainian people have demonstrated the will to join the European Union, recognised by the majority of Ukrainians as an example of democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights at international level;

•The Ukrainian Parliament has adopted legislation obliging the government of Ukraine to take all measures necessary for the full integration of Ukraine into the political, economic, and legal environment of the European Union, with the aim of obtaining full membership of the European Union;

Noting that:

•On 21 November 2013, the government of Ukraine unilaterally adopted a decision to suspend the process leading to the signing of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, and to resume an active dialogue with the Russian Federation and other countries of the Customs Union.

On 22 November 22 2013, tens of thousands of Ukrainians took to the streets of Kiev calling on the President of Ukraine to ensure the process of signing the Association Agreement with the European Union.

•ALDE Party president Graham Watson and ALDE Group leader Guy Verhofstadt, among other European liberal leaders, have on many occasions publicly supported the EU–Ukraine Association Agreement and made a considerable effort to support the Ukrainian people in this regard.

The ALDE Party calls for:

•European institutions to condemn the use of force against peaceful demonstrators in Kiev and other cities throughout Ukraine, and warn the Ukrainian governing authorities that they are personally responsible for authorising brutal attacks by the police, and the violence that followed; and for the institutions to further stress th at such blatant disregard of the people’s will to determine their own future is unacceptable in a European country and to demand the fulfilment of previously undertaken obligations.

•The people of Ukraine to be commended for their will and courage, and supports the peaceful initiatives of Ukrainians to defend their rights and freedoms

The original publication