Compromise 1 - Citations 1, 4 a (new), 5 a (new), 10 a (new), 10 b (new), 10 c (new) OK
AMs 1 (Kalniete), 3 (Fotyga), 5 (Gahler), 6 (Austrevicius), 8 (Fotyga), 9 (Reintke), 11 (Von
Cramon), 13 (Lega), 19 (Kalniete), 22 (Bocskor)
—
having regard to Article 8 and Title V, notably Articles 21, 22, 36
, 37 and 49, of the
Treaty on European Union, as well as Part Five of the Treaty on the Functioning of the
European Union [AM 1 Kalniete],
-
having regard to the UN Secretary-General's report "Situation of human rights in
the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, Ukraine" of 19 June 2020,
[AM 3 Fotyga]
-
having regard to the Joint Statement of the 22nd EU and Ukraine Summit of 6
October 2020, [AM 5 Gahler, 8 Fotyga, 13 Lega, 19 Kalniete]
-
having regard to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human
Rights (OHCHR) reports on Ukraine, particularly
the 30th report on the human rights situation in Ukraine of September 2020, [AMs 6
Austrevicius, 11 Von Cramon]
-
having regard to the Joint Statement of the NATO-Ukraine Commission on 31
October 2019, [AM 22 Bocskor]
-
having regard to the fifth country monitoring report of the European Commission
Against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI), published in September 2017, and to the
conclusions on Ukraine, concerning the state of implementation of the 2017
recommendations, published in June 2020, [AM 9 Reintke]
Compromise 2 - Recitals A, A a (new) OK
AMs 23 (Cimoszewicz), 24 (Olekas), 25 (Fotyga), 26 (Kalniete), 29 (Gahler) INTA 1 first part,
INTA 4 first part (if adopted, AMs 27 Van Dalen, 28 Wallace, 43 Rivière fall)
A.
whereas the AA/DCFTA is the cornerstone of the European Union’s relations with
Ukraine
based on political association and economic integration and constitutes [AM 23
Cimoszewicz] a roadmap for reforms, whose full implementation should be considered as
enabling
continuous rapprochement to the Union
leading to gradual integration into the EU
Internal Market [AMs 24 Olekas, 26 Kalniete, INTA 1 first part, INTA 4 first part] and
towards fully reaping the potential and benefits of the AA/DCFTA [AM 23 Cimoszewicz];
A a.
whereas Ukraine has a European perspective pursuant to Article 49 TEU, and may
apply to become a member of the Union provided that it adheres to all the Copenhagen
criteria and the principles of democracy, respects fundamental freedoms and human and
minority rights, and upholds the rule of law [AMs 25 Fotyga, 29 Gahler]
;
Compromise 3 - Recitals B, B a (new), B b (new) OK
AMs 33 (Gahler), 34 (Von Cramon), 37 (Gahler), 38 (Von Cramon)
B.
whereas in 2019 Ukraine went through a delicate electoral period, both at presidential
and parliamentary level, and its handling of
the processes as well as the peaceful and orderly
transition of power that ensued should be praised [AM 33 Gahler];
B a.
Whereas the nationwide local elections of 25 October 2020 represent another test of
the state of democracy and an opportunity for further consolidation [AM 37 Gahler]
;
whereas, in the run-up to those local elections on 25 October 2020, there have been attempts
to change the Electoral Code during the ongoing election campaign and a lack of clear
measures on how to respond to the COVID-19 situation remains a significant concern, with
a view to new standards of safe voting [AM 34 Von Cramon]
;
B b.
Whereas civil society and election experts reported that local party organizations,
candidates, and members of the election commissions could not properly prepare for the
candidates’ registration since the Electoral Code was adopted immediately before the
election process [AM 38 Von Cramon]
;
Compromise 4 - Recital C OK
AMs 41 (Gahler), 42 (Von Cramon)
C.
whereas
, particularly during the second part of 2019, in order to deliver quickly on
the reform promised during the electoral campaigns, [AM 41 Gahler] the pace of legislative
activity has been
particularly sustained, sometimes
at the detriment of parliamentary scrutiny,
transparency, [AM 42 Von Cramon] and quality of legislation;
Compromise 5 - Recital D OK
AMs 44 (Von Cramon), 45 (Mc Allister), 47 (Cimoszewicz), 48 (Gahler), 57 (Lexmann) (if
adopted AM 46 Van Dalen falls)
D.
whereas
while [AM 48 Gahler] Ukraine has made substantial advancements in its
implementation of AA-related commitments [AM 47 Cimoszewicz] and
integration with the
Union,
several of the reforms
initiated [AM 48 Gahler] need to be completed
, in particular in
the areas of the rule of law, good governance and anti-corruption [AM 44 Von Cramon]
, as,
despite notable progress, widespread corruption continues to hamper Ukraine's reform
process [AM 57 Lexmann]
; moreover, some additional measures still need to be adopted in
order to avoid any backsliding,
with a focus on the judiciary [AM 45 McAllister]
;
Compromise 6 - Recitals E, E a (new) OK
AMs 35 (Fotyga), 51 (Cimoszewicz), 52 (Gahler), 53 (Austrevicius), 54 (Von Cramon), 55
(Olekas), 67 (Kalniete), 68 (Gahler), 70 (Lexmann), 71 (Olekas), 73 (Lopez-Isturiz White), 74
(Bocskor), 84 (Bilcik)
E.
whereas the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine
within its
internationally recognised borders [AM 71 Olekas],
as well as its ability to implement
necessary economic and social reforms are still being
severely undermined by
targeted
disinformation campaigns, cyber-attacks and other hybrid threats [AMs 35 Fotyga, 70
Lexmann, 84 Bilcik] as well as by the unresolved conflict in the east of the country
, caused by
the ongoing Russian
military aggression [AMs 67 Kalniete, 73 Lopez-Isturiz White]
and
occupation of large portions of
Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts as well as continuous illegal
occupation and annexation by Russia of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea
and the city of
Sevastopol, [AMs 35 Fotyga, AM 51 Cimoszewicz, 67 Kalniete, 71 Olekas, 74 Bocskor]
which
worsen the human rights situation and represent a barrier to enhancing the country’s
prosperity, stability and growth [AM 68 Gahler];
E a.
whereas the full potential of the reforms adopted is not being realised because of the
reform process dynamics and related institutional challenges [AM 55 Olekas];
whereas
reforms are also impaired by internal institutional instability and contradictions [AM 52
Gahler]
, lack of clear benchmarks [AM 54 Von Cramon]
weak capacity, limited resources,
external factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic [AM 53 Austrevicius]
as well as by a lack
of political resolve to accept and ensure the full independence of judicial and economic
institutions and to avoid a selective use of justice [AM 52 Gahler];
Compromise 7 - Recitals H, H a (new), H b (new) OK
AMs 63 (Lexmann), 64 (Von Cramon), 65 (Gahler), 95 (Von Cramon)
H.
whereas the ongoing global crisis calls for a coordinated approach and exceptional
support measure packages;
whereas any emergency measures must be proportionate, limited
in time and respect fundamental freedoms [AM 64 Von Cramon]
;
H a.
whereas the EU stood with the people of Ukraine from the beginning of the COVID-
19 pandemic, providing financial and material support through bilateral and regional
programmes, [AM 63 Lexmann]
such as the ones made available by the Union to Ukraine
in March, April and May 2020 [AM 65 Gahler];
H b.
whereas, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is even more essential that
humanitarian aid continues to be delivered and that the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission,
UN agencies, non-governmental organisations and the International Committee of the Red
Cross have unimpeded access to the non-government controlled areas [AM 95 Von Cramon]
;
Compromise 8 - Recitals I, I a (new), I b (new), paragraphs 11, 11 a (new), 11 b (new), 11 c
(new), 11 d (new), 11 e (new), 11 f (new), 11 g (new), 11 h (new)
AMs 32 (Fotyga), 82 (Gahler), 89 (Von Cramon), 90 (Gahler), 91 (Von Cramon), 175
(Kalniete), 180 (Cimoszewicz), 181 (Austrevicius), 182 (Austrevicius), 183 (Fotyga), 184
(Von Cramon), 185 (Lopez-Isturiz White), 187 (Cimoszewicz), 188 (Austrevicius), 189 (Von
Cramon), 190 (Fotyga), 191 (Austrevicius), 192 (Von Cramon), 193 (Cimoszewicz), 195
(Austrevicius), 203 (Fotyga), 207 (Kalniete), 209 (Fotyga), 219 (Fotyga), 220 (Fotyga), 254
(Austrevicius), 274 (Fotyga), 277 (Austrevicius), 280 (Fotyga), 284 (Paet), 313 (Kalniete),
INTA 18 (if adopted AMs 36 Wallace, 69 Wallace, 72 Rivière. 174 Wallace, 176 Fotyga, 177
Rivière, 178 Castaldo fall) OK
I a.
whereas the EU has strongly condemned the ongoing Russian aggression against
Ukraine, including the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol in violation of its
sovereignty and territorial integrity [AM 82 Gahler]
and has established and will continue a
policy of non-recognition thereof and in this regard continues to implement restrictive
measures against individuals and entities involved in this breach of international law; [AMs
32 Fotyga, 90 Gahler, 91 Von Cramon, INTA 18]
I b.
whereas the EU remains committed to the endeavours of the Normandy format, the
OSCE, the Trilateral Contact Group and the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine,
and welcomed the constructive approach of Ukraine in the Normandy format and the
Trilateral Contact Group and called on Russia to reciprocate; [AM 91 Von Cramon]
11.
Reiterates the Union’s unwavering support for and commitment to Ukraine’s
independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised
borders, and its support for the internationally coordinated sanctioning of the Russian
Government and agents who are undermining the country's
sovereignty and territorial integrity,
until such time as all relevant conditions for the lifting of the sanctions have been met
,
including full implementation of the Minsk agreements and restoration of the territorial
integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders; [AM 175 Kalniete]
11 a.
Continues to condemn the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol and the de
facto occupation of certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk; calls on the Russian Federation
to fulfil its international obligations, to withdraw its military forces from the territory of
Ukraine and to fully implement the resolutions of the UN General Assembly on the territorial
integrity of Ukraine and on Crimea and Sevastopol; [AM 180 Cimoszewicz]
11 b.
Welcomes the resumption of the peace talks under the Normandy four format on 9
December 2019 in Paris after a deadlock of three years, urges all sides to adhere to the
ceasefire agreement, stresses the importance of identifying additional disengagement areas,
demining activities and opening checkpoints across the contact line, [AM 181 Austrevicius]
and calls on Russia to use its decisive influence over the armed formations backed by it to
respect and fully implement the commitments taken as part of the Minsk Agreements and
recent meetings of the Normandy four and the Trilateral Contact Group; [AMs 180
Cimoszewicz, 181 Austrevicius]
reiterates, as agreed in Minsk and in the so called
‘Steinmeier Formula’, that local elections in the occupied parts of eastern Ukraine must be
conducted in accordance with Ukrainian legislation and under supervision of the OSCE;
underlines that the conditions for free and fair elections in Donetsk and Luhansk are not
met in the current situation; [AM 191 Austrevicius]
welcomes the dismissal of the plan to
include Russian-backed separatists as a party to the talks of the Trilateral Contact Group;
regrets comments made by high-ranking members of the Ukrainian delegation in the
Trilateral Contact Group denying Russia’s military involvement in the conflict in Donbas
region; [AM 192 Von Cramon]
11 c.
Strongly condemns Russia’s destabilising actions and military involvement in
Ukraine; expresses concerns about Russia’s ongoing build-up of military facilities and
installations in the Crimean Peninsula, including well over 30 000 troops, new surface to air
and surface to surface missile systems, nuclear- capable submarines and strategic bombers;
condemns Russia’s illegal actions aimed to seize control of the Kerch Strait as they constitute
a breach of international maritime law and Russia’s international commitments, notably the
construction of the Kerch Bridge and its rail link without Ukraine’s consent, the laying of
underwater cables and the closing-up and militarisation of the Azov Sea, which severely
hinders Ukraine’s economic activities; [AMs 182 Austrevicius, 183 Fotyga, 187
Cimoszewicz, 203 Fotyga]
calls on the Russian Federation to ensure unhindered and free
passage to and from the Azov Sea in line with international law, [AMs 187 Cimoszewicz,
189 Von Cramon, 207 Kalniete]
and access to the occupied Ukrainian territories of Donbas
and annexed Crimea for international non-governmental organisations and international
humanitarian organisations; [AMs 189 Von Cramon, 284 Paet, 313 Kalniete]
calls for the
release of all Ukrainian political prisoners and prisoners of war in Russia, Crimea and parts
of Donbas not controlled by the Ukrainian government; [AM 193 Cimoszewicz]
however,
expresses concern over liberating Russian citizens suspected of involvement in the downing
of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 [AM 254 Austrevicius];
11 d.
Emphasises the need for a political solution to the conflict in Eastern Ukraine; asks
the Commission and the EEAS to enhance its efforts in peaceful conflict resolution, by
supporting the efforts of all sides in the peace process, as well as increasing confidence-
building measures and back a mandate for deploying a UN peacekeeping mission
throughout the occupied territory of Ukraine; [AM 184 Von Cramon]
once the situation
permits and as part of the full implementation of the Minsk agreements, an EU-led civilian
CSDP mission should be offered for deployment to the parties to the conflict, to assist in
tasks such as demining, preparations for local elections and securing free access for
humanitarian aid organisations; [AM 195 Austrevicius]
in parallel, calls on the EU
Institutions to be ready to enhance the sanctions against Russia should the situation require,
including if Russia fails to deliver on its obligations under the Minsk Protocol, particularly
as regards to the security track [AM 185 Lopez-Isturiz White]
11 e.
Calls upon the EEAS to develop a more active role for the EU, represented by the
Vice-President of the European Commission / High Representative (VP/HR) of the Union
for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, in the peaceful resolution of the ongoing war in
eastern Ukraine, including within the Normandy four format; recommends to consider the
appointment of an EU Special Envoy for Crimea and the Donbas region; [AMs 188
Austrevicius, 219 Fotyga, INTA 18]
11 f.
Repeats its call for an international format of negotiations on de-occupation of the
Crimean peninsula with active participation of the EU; [AM 190 Fotyga]
calls on the VP/HR,
Commission and Member States to provide all necessary support for the establishment of a
Crimea International Platform that would allow to coordinate, formalise and systemise
efforts aimed at the restoration of the territorial integrity of Ukraine; considers it important
to involve the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people in the activities of such Platform as the
only internationally recognised representative body of the Crimean Tatars; [AM 209 Fotyga]
11 g.
In the meantime, recalls that according to international humanitarian law, the
Russian Federation, as an occupying state, bears full responsibility for meeting the needs of
the population of the temporarily occupied Crimean peninsula, including water supply; [AM
280 Fotyga]
furthermore, pursuant to the Fourth Geneva Convention, to which Russia is a
party, an occupying power may not compel residents of the occupied territory to serve in its
armed or auxiliary forces; [AMs 277 Austrevicius, 280 Fotyga]
11 h.
Condemns the Russian Federation for settling Russian citizens in occupied Crimea
and the territories of Donetsk and Luhansk, thus upsetting the balance between holders of
Russian passports and Ukrainians, [AM 274 Fotyga]
and its attempts to organize local
elections in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea in Ukraine on 13 September 2020; states
that the election of the governor of Sevastopol was illegal and in violation of international
law, as was the vote for representatives to the so-called State Council of the 'Crimean
Republic', the so-called Legislative Assembly of the city of Symferopol and the so-called
Rural Council of the Razdolno region; calls on the EU to impose sanctions on those
responsible for organising and conducting the votes; [AMs 89 Von Cramon and 220 Fotyga]
deplores the actions of Russia conscripting young men in occupied Crimea to serve in the
Russian armed forces, out of whom 85% were sent to serve in the Russian Federation; calls
on Russia to stop conscripting people in Crimea and fully abide by its obligations under the
Geneva Conventions; [AM 277 Austrevicius]
Compromise 9 - Recitals I c (new), I d (new), I e (new), paragraph 11 i (new) OK
AMs 76 (Piri), 83 (Van Dalen), 85 (Piri), 179 (Piri), 199 (Von Cramon), 230 (Paet)
I c.
whereas, on 17 July 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 between Amsterdam and
Kuala Lumpur was shot down over Donetsk Oblast in the context of Russian efforts to
undermine Ukraine’s territorial integrity, leading to the death of all 298 passengers and
crew; whereas the Netherlands-led Joint Investigation Team (JIT) confirmed that Flight
MH17 was downed with the use of a Buk surface-to-air missile supplied by the Kursk-based
53rd anti-aircraft brigade of the Russian Ground Forces [AM 76 Piri]
;
I d.
whereas a trial against four prime suspects of the downing of Malaysia Airlines
Flight MH17, enabled by Ukraine’s cooperation within the Joint Investigation Team,
commenced under Dutch law on 9 March 2020; whereas the Netherlands on 10 July 2020
brought an inter-State application against the Russian Federation before the European
Court of Human Rights for its role in the downing of Flight MH17; whereas Russia exerted
pressure on Ukraine to include a fifth person of interest, Volodymyr Tsemakh, in a prisoner
exchange on 7 September 2019; whereas, on 15 October 2020, Russia unilaterally ceased its
participation in the trilateral truth-finding consultations with Australia and the Netherlands;
whereas Russia has consistently obstructed all efforts to bring perpetrators to justice,
including through its rejection of the results of the Joint Investigation Team, the promotion
of disinformation on Flight MH17, and by exerting its veto power in the UN Security Council
to thwart the establishment of an international tribunal [AM 85 Piri]
;
I e.
whereas the EU condemned Russia for stopping its cooperation in the MH17-cases;
whereas the EU strongly appealed on Russia to fully cooperate in the MH17-investigations
and court cases; [AM 83 Van Dalen]
11 i.
Expresses its full support for all efforts to provide justice for all 298 victims of the
downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 by a Russian-supplied surface-to-air missile and
their next of kin, including the internationally supported criminal proceedings against four
suspects under Dutch law and the case lodged against Russia with the European Court of
Human Rights; commends Ukraine for its continued collaboration within the Joint
Investigation Team to determine the truth, identify suspects and bring perpetrators to justice;
condemns Russia’s unilateral withdrawal from the trilateral truth-finding consultations with
Australia and the Netherlands; calls on Russia to cooperate fully with all ongoing efforts to
ensure accountability of any individual or entity engaged in the downing of MH17, inter alia
by resuming truth-finding dialogue with Australia and the Netherlands, ensuring its
cooperation with the inter-State application lodged by the Netherlands against Russia with
the European Court of Human Rights regarding the matter, and through the extradition of
Volodymyr Tsemakh to the Netherlands; urges Russia to cease its promotion of
disinformation in regard to Flight MH17; [AM 179 Piri, 199 Von Cramon, 230 Paet]
Compromise 10 - Recitals I f (new), I g (new) OK
AMs 30 (Fotyga), 31 (Fotyga), 78 (Austrevicius), 79 (Von Cramon), 88 (Austrevicius)
I f.
whereas since the beginning of the war in Eastern Ukraine, around 13 000 people
have been killed, a quarter of them civilians, and as many as 30 000 wounded [AM 30
Fotyga]
; whereas approximately 1.5 million Ukrainians had to flee their homes due to the
armed conflict with Russia-backed armed groups; whereas hundreds of Ukrainians are
imprisoned by Russia and its proxies, while whereabouts of many others are still unknown;
[AM 31 Fotyga];
whereas the ongoing military conflict have caused a humanitarian crisis
with devastating consequences on 4.4 million people of which approximately 1.5 million are
internally displaced (IDPs); whereas 3.4 million people who are living on the line of contact
require humanitarian assistance and protection; whereas, as a result of attacks on public
infrastructure, local populations are facing limited access to health care facilities, schools,
water and sanitation [AM 78 Austrevicius]
;
I g.
whereas the human rights situation in Eastern Ukraine and on the Crimean
peninsula has significantly deteriorated, while the violation of freedom of speech, media
abuse and the forced imposition of Russian citizenship have become systematic, and
fundamental human rights and freedoms are not guaranteed; whereas the self-proclaimed
authorities in occupied Crimea continue to harass Crimean Tatars, prosecuting dozens on
trumped-up terrorism charges; [AM 79 Von Cramon]
whereas the Center for Civil Liberties
in Ukraine estimates at least 94 Ukrainian citizens persecuted for political motives in Crimea
or in Russia, out of which 71 are Crimean Tatars, including Marlen Asanov, Memet
Belyalov, Timur Ibragimov, Seyran Saliyev, Server Mustafayev, Server Zekiryayev and
Edem Smailov sentenced in September 2020 to prison terms of between 13 and 19 years;
[AM 88 Austrevicius]
;
Compromise 11 - Recitals I i (new), I j (new), I k (new), paragraphs 17 g (new), 17 h (new),
17 i (new) OK
AMs 66 (Maurel), 86 (Reintke), 93 (Austrevicius), 270 (Von Cramon), 281 (Von Cramon),
285 (Von Cramon), 299 (Reintke), 326 (Austrevicius), 327 (Austrevicius), 342 (Austrevicius)
I i.
whereas Ukraine is a country with a significant problem in the area of gender
inequality; whereas equality before the law does not mean actual equality, but in practice
women continue to encounter major obstacles in particular in the workplace; whereas in the
WEF’s Global Gender Gap Index of 2018 Ukraine ranks 65th among 149 countries; whereas
according to the income inequality indicator in Ukraine, for every 100 dollars of the income
earned by men, women will earn only 63,1 dollars; [AM 66 Maurel]
I j.
whereas LGBTI people and feminist activists are continuously subjected to hate
speech and violent attacks, and Roma people face discriminatory language and hate speech
from State and local authorities and the media [AM 93 Austrevicius]
;
I k.
whereas law enforcement refused on numerous occasions to investigate criminal
complaints by LGBTI persons on hate crimes or speech, namely Pride demonstrators, due
to lack of provisions in the Criminal Code to prosecute incitement to hatred or violence on
grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity; whereas the European Commission against
Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) has recommended the amendment of the criminal code to
cover such grounds and to consider them as aggravating circumstances; [AM 86 Reintke]
17 g.
Underlines that gender equality is a key precondition for sustainable and inclusive
development; urges the Ukrainian government and authorities to implement measures to
further improve women’s representation and equal treatment at all levels of political and
societal life, as well as combatting gender-based violence; requests the Commission and
EEAS to mainstream gender equality in all its policies, financial support, programmes and
activities in relation to Ukraine, [AMs 270 Von Cramon, 327 Austrevicius]
particularly when
aimed to mitigate the negative effects caused by COVID-19, as women, including women
entrepreneurs, were among the most impacted by the strict confinement; [AM 342
Austrevicius]
17 h.
Condemns violent attacks and hate crimes against LGBTI persons and calls on
Ukrainian law enforcement authorities to effectively investigate these attacks; [AM 281 Von
Cramon]
urges Ukraine to establish and effectively implement comprehensive secondary
legislation that ensures freedom of belief, counters the continued discrimination of LGBTI
persons, feminist activists, people living with disabilities and minorities and enhances the
protection of their rights; calls on the Ukrainian government and all political actors to take
efforts to create an inclusive and tolerant society; [AMs 285 Von Cramon, 326 Austrevicius]
17 i.
Regrets that Article 161 of the Criminal Code still does not foresee punishment of
incitement to hatred or violence on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity, and that
these grounds are not referenced as aggravating forms of offences nor on the general
provisions on aggravating circumstances under Article 67(1)(3); recalls that the
government’s Action Plan on Implementation of the National Human Rights Strategy
provided for the inclusion of the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity as
aggravating circumstances in Article 67 of the Criminal Code; recalls ECRI’s
recommendations and calls on Ukraine to amend the Criminal Code accordingly; [AM 299
Reintke]
Compromise 12 - Paragraph 1 OK
AMs 100 (Gahler), 101 (Von Cramon), 102 (Cimoszewicz), INTA 2 second part (if adopted
AM 103 Wallace falls)
1.
Notes that the AA/DCFTA is
a reflection of the shared ambition of the EU and
Ukraine for political association and economic integration and can serve as [AM 102
Cimoszewicz] a blueprint for reform and stresses its paramount importance, especially in
the
current exceptional times
; encourages to fully implement the agreement and exploit its
potential;
urges the Ukrainian authorities to keep its implementation high on their agendas
despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic; stresses that the EU assistance to
Ukraine is subject to strict conditionality and reiterates the need for Ukraine to show a
renewed commitment to reform and adherence to the Union’s principles [AM 100 Gahler,
INTA 2 second part]
; recalls the necessity for the update of the AA/DCFTA, to take due
account of the evolution of the regulatory frameworks and economic development needs,
and to strengthen monitoring mechanisms [AM 101 Von Cramon]
;
Compromise 13 - Recitals G, G a (new), Paragraph 2 OK
AMs 61 (Gahler), 62 (Lopez-Isturiz White), 104 (Lopez-Isturiz White), 105 (Paet), 106 (Von
Cramon), 107 (Gahler), INTA 2 first part (if adopted AM 108 Stefanuta falls)
G.
whereas before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic the Ukrainian economy
recovered stability and
showed satisfactory
growth and decreasing unemployment, fostered
by the progress made in exploiting the potential of the AA/DCFTA; [AM 61 Gahler]
G a.
whereas there is a need for maintaining Ukraine's macro-economic stability, by
adhering to its IMF commitments and implementing all medium-term structural policies
agreed upon within the EU Macro-Financial Assistance program, as well as ensuring a
strong and independent National Bank of Ukraine; [AM 62 Lopez-Isturiz White]
2.
Welcomes the unprecedented aid packages, including macro-financial assistance, made
available by the Union to Ukraine
as part of Team Europe, to help
partner countries [AM 107
Gahler] to cope with the COVID-19 emergency;
notes that it is a crucial demonstration of the
EU's solidarity at a time of unprecedented crisis [AM 105 Paet, INTA 2 first part]
; calls on
the Ukrainian authorities to create a climate conducive to investments and to swiftly
implement the agreed conditions for disbursement of the EU Macro-Financial Assistance
laid out in the Memorandum of Understanding [AM 104 Lopez-Isturiz White, AM 106 Von
Cramon]
;
Compromise 14 - Paragraph 3 OK
AMs 109 (Gahler), 113 (Fotyga), 115 (Lopez-Isturize White), 116 (Bocskor), (if adopted AMs
110 Castaldo, 112 Von Cramon fall)
3.
Is satisfied that the
OCSE/ODIHR Election
observation missions,
with the
participation of the European Parliament, assessed the 2019 presidential and parliamentary
elections overall as competitive,
well administered and managed in an efficient way
, which
confirms Ukraine's attachment to the Union’s democratic values [AM 109 Gahler]
and is
particularly notable in the context of ongoing Russian efforts to destabilise Ukraine [AM
113 Fotyga];
urges the Ukrainian authorities to address the shortcomings identified in the
statements of the Heads of the European Parliament’s delegations and to follow the
recommendations contained in the OCSE/ODIHR Election Observation mission final
reports; [AM 109 Gahler];
remains vigilant in observing the extent to which the democratic
standards of holding free and fair elections in Ukraine are upheld as the country is
approaching its first local elections after the welcomed decentralisation reform; [AM 115
Lopez-Isturize White]
calls on the Ukrainian Government to ensure free and fair electoral
campaigns, without improper campaign financing methods, in which there is no room for
vote buying; stresses that the electoral process and the voting process on election day should
be held with higher safety standards and to take special safety measures to prevent the spread
of COVID-19; [AM 116 Bocskor]
Compromise 15 - Paragraphs 4, 4 a (new), 4 b (new), 4 c (new) OK
AMs 117 (Cimoszewicz), 118 (Von Cramon), 120 (López-Istúriz White), 121 (Gahler), 122
(Gahler), 124 (Kalniete), 126 (Kalniete), 128 (Kalniete), 157 (Kalniete), 208 (Lexmann), 438
(Lexmann), INTA 19 first part (if adopted AM 119 Van Dalen falls)
4.
Stresses the importance of pro-democratic reforms and trust in institutions as the
most efficient security mechanism; [AM 208 Lexmann] calls on the Commission to
use the
mechanisms
in place to facilitate and support [AM 121 Gahler] Ukraine’s implementation of
reforms;
suggests to develop and implement
, in close cooperation with civil society, qualitative
and quantitative mechanisms to monitor Ukraine’s implementation of reforms, including clear
benchmarks
, recommendations [AM 118 Von Cramon, INTA 19 first part]
and principles of
conditionality [AM 120 López-Istúriz White]
to be used to improve the methodology of the
annual implementation reports, which should become effective tools of guidance for reforms
[AM 118 Von Cramon];
4 a.
Recommends to focus on a limited number of priorities on which to concentrate
political efforts, financial support and technical assistance with a view to effectively build up
the institutional capacity required to secure long-term success of reforms, not only in
legislation but also in practice [AM 117 Cimoszewicz]
; supports strengthening EU-Ukraine
sectoral cooperation in priority areas, such as digital economy, energy, climate change, trade
and reminds of the need to conclude the Common Aviation Area Agreement between the EU
and Ukraine; welcomes Ukraine’s ambitions of approximation with the EU Digital Single
Market and European Green Deal policies by implementing the relevant acquis; [AM 122
Gahler]
4b.
Highlights the need to have upgraded steering and reporting mechanisms assessing
the progress made by Ukraine, in particular, in the areas of reform of the justice sector,
anticorruption, State owned enterprises corporate governance and energy reforms, which
would be linked with economic and investment support; [AM 126 Kalniete]
4 c.
Acknowledges the associated partnership status of Ukraine and the other signatories
of AAs and DCFTAs, and calls for an enhanced political dialogue with them in order to
advance further economic integration and legislative harmonisation; [AM 438 Lexmann]
invites the EU, in line with the principle of “more for more”, to consider creating for the
three associated countries, including Ukraine, an enhanced cooperation strategy of reforms
and investments, which would be conditional in the areas including, but not limited to,
investment capacity building, transport, energy, justice and digital economy, and paving the
way for an ambitious agenda of integration into the EU; [AM 124 Kalniete]
invites the
European Commission be the end of 2020 to propose for Ukraine and other countries
associated with the EU, in coordination with International Financial Institutions, a detailed,
conditional and tailor-made economic and investment proposal in the context of addressing
the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic; [AM 128 Kalniete]
; in addition, calls on the
EU Institutions to analyse the opportunity of including Ukraine and the other associated
countries as observers in the proceedings of the Committees established pursuant to Article
291 TFEU and Regulation (EU) No. 182/2011, as well as in the meetings of the Council
working groups and committees, to show the EU's commitments to further integration and
to strengthen the countries' reform orientation and administrative know-how; [AMs 157
Kalniete, 438 Lexmann]
Compromise 16 - Paragraph 5 OK
AMs 129 (Gahler), 130 (Stefanuta), 131 (Austrevicius) (if adopted AM 132 Wallace falls)
5.
Welcomes the
advancements made by Ukraine in
the fulfilment of the country’s [AM
129 Gahler] commitments enshrined in the AA, particularly in the fields of agriculture, energy,
banking, decentralisation
, digital economy, environment [AM 130 Stefanuta] and electoral
procedures; however,
notes that according to the review mechanism of the AA (
“Pulse of the
AA
”), only 37 % of
the AA implementation-related tasks
have been completed in 2019
(down
from 52 % in 2018);
acknowledges the attempts made in the second half of 2019 to accelerate
the pace of reforms, but urges the Ukrainian institutions not to privilege the speed of the
legislative process over the quality of the legislation adopted; and stresses the importance to
continue to implement its commitments; [AMs 129 Gahler, 131 Austrevicius]
Compromise 17 - Paragraph 6 OK
AMs 133 (Cimoszewicz), 134 (Gahler), 135 (Lopez-Isturiz White) (if adopted AM 136 Van
Dalen falls)
6.
Welcomes the Joint Government-Parliament Roadmap adopted in 2018 and the creation
of a joint platform for European integration in November 2019
and hopes that those initiatives
will result in enhanced coordination between the various institutions involved in the design,
adoption and implementation of reforms [AM 134 Gahler];
encourages the parliament and
government of Ukraine to enhance their use of this instrument in a more efficient manner
[AM 135 Lopez-Isturiz White]
and to review their cooperation on implementation of AA-
related commitments and approximation of legislation with a view to maximising synergies,
in particular on expertise of EU legislation and compliance assessments; [AM 133
Cimoszewicz]
Compromise 18 - Paragraphs 7, 7 a (new), 7 b (new) OK
AMs 139 (Von Cramon), 140 (Gahler), 141 (Gahler), 142 (Austrevicius), 145 (Gahler)
7.
Commends Ukraine for the progress it has made in reforming its public administration
and
stresses the importance not to slow down further progress and to submit any temporary
appointments during the Covid-19 period to merit-based recruitment procedures as soon as
possible [AM 140 Gahler];
7 a.
Welcomes the new electoral code
adopted in December 2019
, including its provisions
on the rights of internally displaced persons [AMs 141, 145 Gahler];
however, recalls that
continuous amendments to the Electoral Code during an ongoing election go against Venice
Commission recommendations, cause legal uncertainty and negatively impact the work of
election commissions; urges Ukraine to further tackle illegal campaigning, vote buying,
misuse of administrative resources, and the legal uncertainty surrounding campaigning on
social media [AM 139 Von Cramon]
;
7 b.
Insists that the electoral code should be improved and brought in line with
international standards to address issues such as social media campaigning, transparency
of campaign spending and access of independent candidates to the electoral process;
moreover, with regard to local elections, stresses the importance of eliminating bureaucratic
barriers for voter registration for IDPs, of setting a financial ceiling for campaigning, of
enabling participation of individual candidates, including by reconsidering the intention to
introduce a cash deposit for candidates in small communities; [AM 142 Austrevicius]
Compromise 19 - Paragraphs 8, 8 a (new) OK
AMs 148 (Gahler), 149 (Bocskor), 150 (Cimoszewicz), 151 (Von Cramon)(if adopted AMs
147 Wallace, 152 Rivière, 153 Lopez-Isturiz White fall)
8.
Welcomes the
achievements of the reform on decentralisation
and empowerment of
municipalities initiated in
2014 [AM 148 Gahler]
, which proves to be one of the most
successful reforms so far; acknowledges the support of the U-LEAD project, resulting in the
formation of almost one thousand amalgamated local communities with around 11,7 million
citizens; [AM 148 Gahler]
assesses positively the steps taken so far with a view to
decentralising the public authority and finances through a package of legal acts and their
practical implementation; in particular fully supports the Verkhovna Rada’s resolution on
rayons’ Formation and Liquidation of 17 July 2020 according to which the arrangements
concerning the consolidation of rayons will, as a rule, be applicable also to the territories of
Crimea and districts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions currently not controlled by the
Government of Ukraine [AM 150 Cimoszewicz]
;
8 a.
Urges Ukraine to complete
the decentralisation reform [AM 148 Gahler]
in a wide
and open dialogue, in particular with local self-governments and their associations, [AM
149 Bocskor]
with the goal of increasing the autonomy and competences of local
governments and encouraging regular exchanges between the central government and
national associations of local and regional governments on any policy which may have a
territorial impact [AM 151 Von Cramon];
welcomes the organization of the first round of
local elections on 25 October 2020, with a turnout exceeding 36%, which where free and
fair, but coupled with a parallel public consultation, which, according to OSCE/ODIHR,
created an undue political advantage and blurred the separation of state and party; calls on
the State authorities to respect the autonomy of local self government and to support the
administrative capacities of municipalities and cities; welcomes the change to the budget
code with a guarantee of a 60% share in local personal income tax as a necessary
contribution to sound public finances at local level; [AM 148 Gahler]
warns against the
establishment of parallel structures on the local level that could create competence struggles,
but suggests to consider awarding office holders with double competences assuming both
local competences and at the same time functioning as lowest state authority; [proposal by
the Rapporteur]
Compromise 20 - Paragraphs 10 (new), 10 a (new), 10 b (new), 10 c (new), 10 d (new), 12
AMs 170 (Gahler), 173 (Gahler), 186 (Olekas), 200 (Austrevicius), 201 (Gahler), 202
(Simecka), 204 (Austrevicius), 206 (Paet), 210 (Austrevicius), 211 (Kalniete), 212 (Lexmann),
214 (Lexmann), 215 (Fotyga), 216 (Kalniete), 217 (Austrevicius), 221 (Kalniete), 222
(Kalniete), 378 (Kalniete) (if adopted AMs 171 Rivière, 172 Wallace fall) OK
10.
Acknowledges the unique experience and expertise of Ukraine [AM 204
Austrevicius]
and welcomes Ukraine’s participation in common security and defence policy
(CSDP) missions, battlegroups and operations, contributions to EU Battle Groups, its
increasing alignment with EU statements and declarations on international and regional
issues as well as contributions; and [AMs 170 Gahler, 204 Asutrevicius, 212 Lexmann]
congratulates Ukraine on its new NATO Enhanced Opportunities Partner status;
10 a.
Welcomes successful steps taken in the field of scientific and technological
cooperation, including space industry, and in the field of defence, notably convergence in
the operational, educational and institutional segments, and in the implementation of the
necessary internal changes in these sectors [AM 210 Austrevicius]
; praises Ukraine’s
willingness to participate in the EU Research and Innovation Framework Horizon Europe
and ESA research programs; [AM 378 Kalniete]
notes the fruitful cooperation between
Ministry of Defence of Ukraine and the European Defence Agency and encourages further
development; [AM 216 Kalniete]
calls on the EU and Ukraine to boost cooperation in
security and defence and devoting particular attention to the conflict in eastern Ukraine and
Russia's attempts to subvert Ukraine's territorial integrity, by means of reconciliation,
cooperation in the sphere of cyber security and countering disinformation, as well as
working to strengthen the resilience of families, communities and state institutions; [AM
214 Lexmann]
10 b.
Supports the possible participation of Ukraine in selected CSDP projects, including
cooperation with EDA and in particular [AM 215 Fotyga]
PESCO, provided that it meets an
agreed set of political, substantive and legal conditions, like other third countries; [AMs 173
Gahler, 204 Austrevicius, 221 Kalniete]
welcomes the recent decision of the EU to invite
Ukraine to participate in the EU ALTHEA operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina and
encourages both sides – EU and Ukraine – to continue extension of Ukraine’s participation
in missions and operations of the European Union; [AM 211 Kalniete]
10 c.
Calls Ukraine to assist Moldovan central government in its endeavours to regain
control over Transnistria based on the territorial integrity of Moldova; [AM 206 Paet]
10 d.
Welcomes the enhanced cooperation between Ukrainian authorities and the
European public and private sector to combat hybrid threats, primarily from Russia, aiming
to, inter alia, spread false information, promulgate violence and push anti-government and
anti-European sentiments; [AM 217 Austrevicius]
considers it as timely and appropriate for
the EU and Ukraine to initiate as soon as possible a dialogue on cyber issues and supports
the idea of broadening the spectrum of dialogue on security and defence in order to
adequately react to current and future threats, in particular in line with the EU Global
Security Strategy; [AM 222 Kalniete]
12.
Takes note of the adoption
in June 2018 of the Law on National Security [AM 201
Gahler],
of the law on defence procurement and on intelligence in 2020 [AM 200
Austrevicius]; however
urges the adoption of additional legislation aimed at limiting the
competences of
the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) in order to transform it into a pure
counter-intelligence and counter-terrorism agency
and at establishing parliamentary
oversight over the whole security sector;
Compromise 21 - Paragraphs 13, 13 a (new), 13 b (new), 13 c (new), 13 d (new) OK
AMs 154 (Gahler), 169 (Von Cramon), 223 (Gahler), 224 (Fotyga), 225 (Cimoszewicz), 226
(Lopez-Isturiz White), 227 (Von Cramon), 228 (Castaldo), 232 (Von Cramon), 234
(Cimoszewicz), 235 (Cimoszewicz), 245 (Kalniete), 251 (McAllister), 253 (Lopez-Isturiz
White), INTA 13 first part (If adopted AM 229 Austrevicius falls)
13.
Reiterates that delivering tangible results in the fight against corruption is essential
in order to maintain a high level of support for the reform process among citizens as well as
to improve the business environment and attract foreign direct investments; [AM 223 Gahler,
INTA 13 first part]
encourages the Ukrainian authorities to further progress on reforms, in
particular in the area of rule of law/anti-corruption and to provide the independence and
work of key anti-corruption institutions; [AM 224 Fotyga]
commends, in this respect, the
reconstitution of the National Agency for Prevention of Corruption (NAPC)
and the entry into
force of the new laws on illicit enrichment and on whistle-blowers in January 2020, as well
as the start of the operations of the High Anti-Corruption Court in September 2019; [AM 223
Gahler]
however, is concerned by the outcome of the 27 October 2020 ruling of the
Constitutional Court, which created a legal gap in the Ukrainian anti-corruption
architecture and seriously weakened the NAPC; urges the Ukrainian authorities to act as
soon as possible to reinstate a fully operational, effective and comprehensive institutional
architecture to fight corruption, including in the judiciary, while fully preserving the latter’s
independence from the executive and legislative power; underscores that a fully empowered
NAPC plays a crucial role in this context and that the Constitutional Court’s ruling should
not be used as a pretext to weaken or sideline it; trusts that the immediate reaction by the
Ukrainian President and other different political stakeholders, in particular the members of
the Verkhovna Rada, will soon result in legislation filling that legal gap weakening anti-
corruption efforts; stresses the importance of ensuring the independence of the High Anti-
Corruption Court; and other anti-corruption institutions [AMs 228 Castaldo, 253 Lopez-
Isturiz White]
and calls for an unbiased and impartial approach in the activity of the anti-
corruption institutions in order to secure trust and public support in the fight against
corruption [AM 226 Lopez-Isturiz White];
acknowledges the first judgments handed down
and the respect of high professional standards of the HACC, [AM 223 Gahler]
however calls
to intensify the HACC’s work in order to increase the conviction rate, including for high-
level cases [AM 225 Cimoszewicz]
;
13 a.
Is pleased with the work of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine
(NABU), which is arguably the country’s most effective anti-corruption institution; further
emphasizes the need to strengthen NABU’s independence; [AM 234 Cimoszewicz]
therefore
urges the law on NABU to be brought in line with the constitution and the recent
Constitutional Court decision and transparent, depoliticized and merit-based selection
procedures to be prescribed for the Heads of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of
Ukraine (NABU) and of the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecution Office (SAPO) as well
as the
State Bureau of Investigations (SBI), including a credible integrity check; [AMs 223
Gahler, 227 Von Cramon, 251 McAllister]
13 b.
Regrets attempts to attack and undermine anti-corruption institutions by members of
the Verkhovna Rada, in particular attempts to dismiss the Director of the National Anti-
Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the opaque selection process of the Director of
the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutors Office (SAPO); [AM 232 Von Cramon]
notes
the lack of protection of NGO activists and journalists uncovering and denouncing
corruption and calls for effective implementation of the new law on the protection of
whistleblowers which came into effect in January 2020; [AM 235 Cimoszewicz]
13 c.
Welcomes the draft Anti-corruption Strategy
for 2020-2024 and expects that the
Verkhovna Rada will soon adopt this comprehensive Strategy, sustaining all crucial
elements of the draft;
acknowledges the diverse forms of pressure and sabotage directed at
the anti-corruption institutions as a reflection of the increasingly effective and successful
fight against corruption; insists that the anti-corruption institutions NABU, SAPO and
HACC must remain independent, effective and adequately resourced; commends the
adoption in December 2019 of the new anti-money laundering law, which strengthened the
transparency of business ownership structures in Ukraine and represents a sizeable
improvement of the relevant legal framework; [AMs 223 Gahler, 245 Kalniete]
13 d.
Is deeply concerned by the high level of systematic political pressure and by the acts
of intimidations perpetrated against the Chairman of the National Bank of Ukraine,
unfortunately not for the first time, which led to his resignation in July 2020. Urges the
Ukrainian authorities to refrain from exerting political pressure on independent economic
institutions and enforcement authorities and to ensure that their independence is preserved
as a guarantee for the correct functioning of the market and a level playing field for all
economic actors; [AMs 154 Gahler, 169 Von Cramon]
Compromise 22 - Paragraphs 14, 14 a (new), 15, 15 a (new) OK
AMs 143 (Lopez-Isturiz White), 236 (Gahler), 237 (Cimoszewicz), 239 (Von Cramon), 240
(Von Cramon), 241 (Gahler), 242 (McAllister), 243 (Stefanuta)
14.
Regrets that the judiciary is still one of the least-trusted institutions in Ukraine and is
seriously concerned by
its state
after the October 2019 reform
, which led to the dismantling
and reconstitution of the Higher Qualification Commission of Judges (HQCJ) and resulted
in the re-assessment and recruitment process of judges being put on hold, while around
2,000 judgeships are vacant;
regrets that in the past the HQCJ did not take into account the
opinion of the Public Integrity Council in its re-assessment of judges and urges it to do so in
the future [AMs 236 Gahler]
in order to fill vacancies in lower court instances with judges
fulfilling ethical and integrity standards in full compliance with Opinion No 969/2019 of the
Venice Commission; insists on an early re-establishment of the HQCJ based on an
amendment of Law No. 3711 in coherence with decision No. 4-p/2020 of 11 March 2020 of
the Ukrainian Constitutional Court [AM 242 McAllister]
so as to establish an independent
High Qualification Commission of Judges (HQCJ) based on a transparent selection
procedure with the involvement of international experts; considers that an empowered
HQCJ’s should be able to effectively carry out the selection of new and the vetting of sitting
judges in line with rules and procedures adopted by the HQCJ itself, according to its
mandate; demands an integrity check of the unreformed High Council of Justice (HCJ);
[AMs 236 Gahler, 239 Von Cramon]
urges the Ukrainian authorities to continue and
accelerate the reform of the judiciary in order not to undermine the work of the newly
established anti-corruption institutions, to refrain from politically motivated trials and the
instrumentalisation of the judiciary against political opponents [AM 143 Lopez-Isturiz
White]
, and to complete the legal framework for combatting organised crime; [AMs 237
Cimoszewicz, 239 Von Cramon]
14 a.
Calls on the Commission to develop existing and new tools in the area of rule of law
and good governance to monitor and assess progress by Ukraine, in particular the EU
Justice Scoreboard and the Rule of Law Mechanism, in order to ensure close scrutiny of the
ongoing reforms and due identification and correction of possible shortcomings in these
reforms; [AM 240 Von Cramon]
15.
Welcomes the reform of the office of the Prosecutor-General initiated in September
2019 and
calls upon completing the attestation of prosecutors, ensuring that new prosecutors
at all levels are selected in a transparent and politically impartial process; [AM 241 Gahler]
encourages the Ukrainian authorities to strengthen the fight against organised crime and
improve the legislative framework, cooperation and coordination between the responsible
law enforcement agencies; [AM 243 Stefanuta]
;
15 a.
Strongly calls on the Ukrainian authorities to refrain from the previous bad practice
of pursuing politically motivated judicial cases; underscores in this regard that divergences
on political issues should be addressed in the competent political fora rather than the judicial
sphere
Compromise 23 - Paragraphs 16, 16 a (new), 16 b (new), 16 c (new), 16 d (new), 16 e (new),
16 f (new), 16 g (new), 16 h (new) OK
AMs 164 (Fotyga), 194 (Von Cramon), 196 (Von Cramon), 197 (Austrevicius), 198 (Von
Cramon), 255 (Austrevicius), 256 (Fotyga), 257 (Gahler), 258 (Stefanuta), 259 (Kalniete), 261
(Cimoszewicz), 262 (Austrevicius), 263 (Nart), 264 (Van Dalen), 265 (Madison), 266
(Austrevicius), 268 (Stefanuta), 271 (Paet), 273 (Paet), 275 (Stefanuta), 276 (Austrevicius),
278 (Gahler), 282 (Stefanuta), 283 (Fotyga), 287 (Austrevicius), 288 (Fotyga), 290 (Paet), 303
(Kalniete), 318 (Castaldo), 328 (Austrevicius) (if adopted, AM 260 Wallace falls)
16.
Strongly condemns the
large-scale and permanent [AM 259 Kalniete] violations of
human rights and fundamental freedoms
such as freedom of expression, religion or belief and
association, as well as the right to peaceful assembly [AMs 262 Austrevicius, 264 Van Dalen]
perpetrated by the
Russian occupying forces in
the temporarily occupied territory of Crimea
and
by so-called separatist forces in the non government-controlled areas of Donbas
, [AMs
257 Gahler, 259 Kalniete, 261 Cimoszewicz, 265 Madison, 266 Austrevicius]
including forced
conscription, deportation, passportisation, restrictions on education rights, arbitrary
detention, torture and other harsh detention conditions, as well as restrictive measures such
as the unilateral closure of checkpoints and the denied access to UN and humanitarian
missions, which are particularly worrying during the current pandemic; [AMs 257 Gahler,
258 Stefanuta]
16 a.
Recalls that Civilians’ lives and well-being continue to be at risk from the war in
eastern Ukraine [AM 263 Nart]
and notes that the reduction of hostilities in eastern Ukraine
during the ceasefire that came into force on 27 July 2020 contributed to a 53% drop in
security incidents and a reduction in civilian casualties; [AM 268 Stefanuta]
welcomes the
“EU4ResilientRegions”,worth €30 million, aimed at enhancing the resilience of eastern and
southern Ukraine to the negative impacts of the ongoing conflict, including to hybrid threats
and other destabilising factors; [AM 275 Stefanuta]
16 b.
However, is extremely concerned by the worsening humanitarian situation in the
Eastern territories currently not controlled by the Ukrainian Government, especially in the
light of the current COVID-19 emergency; urges the de-facto local authorities to adopt all
the measures necessary to ensure that the basic needs of the population, including access to
good quality health facilities and treatment, are met and to fully cooperate with the legitimate
Ukrainian government to that end; [AM 278 Gahler]
16 c.
Underlines that in eastern Ukraine more than 3.5 million people on both sides of the
line of contact are still dependent on humanitarian assistance and protection, facing water
cuts and electricity blackouts; notes that the current COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated
the challenges these people are facing; [AM 282 Stefanuta]
16 d.
Regrets the worsening situation of human rights in Crimea since the beginning of
the occupation, as Russia has drastically curtailed the freedoms of assembly, expression,
association, access to information and religion since the outset of the occupation; [AMs 290
Paet, 303 Kalniete]
deplores the discriminatory policies imposed by the self-proclaimed
Russian authorities against, in particular, Crimea’s ethnic Tatar minority, the infringement
of their property rights, the increasing intimidation of that community and of those who
oppose the illegal annexation through forced conscription, persecutions, searches,
detentions and forced disappearances, and the lack of freedom of expression, association,
religion and movement in the peninsula; [AMs 194 Von Cramon, 256 Fotyga, 271 Paet]
calls
for the immediate and unconditional release of all illegally detained and imprisoned
Ukrainian citizens in the Crimean Peninsula and in Russia, including Crimean Tatar
activists; [AMs 196 Von Cramon, 276 Austrevicius]
moreover, calls upon Russia to
investigate atrocities carried out against Crimean Tatars and to guarantee and safeguard
the right of Crimean Tatars, Ukrainians and of all ethnic and religious communities to
maintain and develop their own culture, traditions, education and identity; [AM 276
Austrevicius]
16 e.
Regrets that there are around 1,5 million internally displaced people in Ukraine,
making it the ninth largest country in the world in terms of the number of Internally
Displaced Persons; notes that the primary responsibility is with the Russian Federation and
its proxies; calls on the Ukrainian authorities to bear additional efforts to alleviate the
suffering of the people affected by the conflict [AM 255 Austrevicius]
and implement
measures to protect the rights of internally displaced persons [AM 318 Castaldo]
; calls on
Ukraine to grant IDPs full civil and political rights and to adhere to international standards
regarding the treatment of IDPs; [AM 255 Austrevicius]
emphasises the importance to
protect and ensure Ukrainian citizenship rights in the temporarily occupied territories,
including simplifying the procedures for receiving pensions, birth certificates for children
and prevent the risk of leaving them stateless and vulnerable; [AM 328 Austrevicius]
16 f.
Urges the OSCE SMM to implement its mandate, by distance, through regular
exchange with victims and witnesses of persecutions, lawyers, NGOs, and media
representatives, among others, both for Crimea and Donbas; [AM 197 Austrevicius]
asks the
EU’s Special Representative for Human Rights to pay continuous attention to the human
rights situation on the Crimean peninsula and in the non-government controlled areas of
Eastern Ukraine; [AM 198 Von Cramon]
16 g.
Notes that the five-year Action Plan for implementing the National Human Rights
Strategy of Ukraine expires in 2020 and calls for a thorough review of its main achievements
before setting goals for a follow up action plan [AM 273 Paet]
; pays close attention to the
support provided by the Ukrainian government to the Crimean Tatar people, and expresses
its concern over the lack of funding for the program of resettlement and arrangement of
Crimean Tatars and persons of other nationalities deported from the territory of Ukraine in
the draft Budget 2021 submitted to the Verkhovna Rada in September 2020; [AM 288
Fotyga]
calls on Ukraine to adopt the laws on the indigenous peoples of Ukraine, on the
status of the indigenous Crimean Tatar people, and on amending its Constitution to
recognise the national-territorial autonomy of the Crimean Tatar people within Ukraine,
and particularly Crimea, which stems from the inalienable right of the indigenous Crimean
Tatar people to self-determination; [AM 283 Fotyga]
demands that the Ukrainian authorities
address the problems of the only television channel in the Crimean Tatar language, ATR,
and offer a stable mechanism for financial and technical support in order to enable the TV
channel to continue its broadcasting into the Russian occupied Crimea; welcomes Ukraine's
initiative to develop the Strategy for the Development and Popularization of the Crimean
Tatar Language for the period until 2032; [AM 164 Fotyga]
16 h.
Calls on EEAS and the Commission to swiftly operationalise and implement an EU
human rights sanctions mechanism, a European Magnitsky-type legislation, based on
Article 215 TFEU, allowing sanctions to be applied against individuals and companies
involved in grave human rights violations and responsible for other crimes, including
corruption, and invites Ukraine to follow the example and to introduce a Ukrainian version
thereof; [AM 287 Austrevicius]
Compromise 24 - Paragraphs 17, 17 a (new) OK
AMs 168 (Cimoszewicz), 293 (Basescu), 294 (Bocskor), 295 (Nistor), 296 (Nart), 297 (Nistor),
298 (Stefanuta), 304 (Castaldo), 317 (Bocskor) (if adopted AM 301 Bocskor falls)
17.
Takes note of the law on supporting the functioning of the Ukrainian language as the
state language and asks the Ukrainian authorities to implement the law
fully in
conformity with
its international obligations and in accordance with the recommendations contained in
opinion No. 960/2019 of the Venice Commission,
that is to respect the right of communities
to develop and fully use their own language [AM 296 Nart]
and proceed with the highest
consideration and balance towards national minorities, their languages and their rights to
education [AMs 293 Basescu, 294 Bocskor, 295 Nistor, AM 297 Nistor]
;
17 a.
Notes that measures are required to reinforce the minority rights infrastructure and
to build confidence that minority rights will be protected in law and in practice; such
measures should include strengthening of legal protection, enhancing institutional attention
to minority issues, and instituting stronger and permanent consultation mechanisms; [AM
304 Castaldo]
expresses concern over the lack of proper action taken by the Ukrainian
authorities to tackle the discrimination and hate speech targeting minority groups, especially
the Roma community, which has been the victim of incidents of discrimination, racially
motivated violence and manifestations of intolerance; [AMs 298 Stefanuta, 317 Bocskor]
calls on Ukraine to strengthen the commemoration of the victims of the Holocaust and
totalitarianism by joining the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) and
by adopting and applying the IHRA's definition of anti-Semitism; calls on the Commission
to invite Ukraine to participate in the Europe for Citizens programme [AM 168
Cimoszewicz]
;
Compromise 25 - Recital I h (new), Paragraphs 17 b (new), 17 c (new), 17 d (new), 17 e (new),
17 f (new)
AMs 59 (Austrevicius), 233 (Cimoszewicz), 252 (Gahler), 272 (Gahler), 289 (Von Cramon),
291 (Von Cramon), 292 (Von Cramon), 302 (Austrevicius), 307 (Gahler), 312 (Stefanuta), 314
(Maurel), 319 (Austrevicius), 322 (Austrevicius), 323 (Kalniete), 324 (Austrevicius) OK
I h.
whereas the media landscape in Ukraine remains under a strong influence of media
owners of oligarchic nature and media workers, particularly journalists investigating
corruption and fraud, continuously face the threat of violence and intimidation, including
the death of journalist Vadym Komarov in 2019, their work is often obstructed by limited
access to information, legal pressure, including a criminal case against Bihus.info, and
cyber-attacks, inter alia; [AM 59 Austrevicius]
17 b.
Notes with concern that the television media market in Ukraine, while being
pluralistic, continues to be marked by excessive influence of oligarchs; [AMs 233
Cimoszewicz, 314 Maurel]
urges Ukraine to foster free and independent media and
strengthen media pluralism; [AM 292 Von Cramon]
underlines the importance of a
sustainable Public Service Broadcaster, an independent media regulator and civil society in
building resilience against disinformation and other destabilising factors; [AM 307 Gahler]
calls upon the Verkhovna Rada and the Government to uphold State’s commitments to the
public broadcaster and to ensure financial and political support for its further
modernization, independence and capacity to conduct investigative journalism; [AM 324
Austrevicius]
17 c.
Reiterates the need for the EU to continue to support Ukraine in countering hybrid
threats and tackling disinformation and fake news, including through strengthening of
independent media, media literacy strategic communications, in order to strengthen
Ukraine's resilience; welcomes the announcement of the launch of the EU-Ukraine cyber-
dialogue; [AMs 252 Gahler, 289 Von Cramon, 312 Stefanuta]
17 d.
Expresses concern at the worsening working environment for media representatives,
particularly investigative journalists reporting on corruption and fraud; deplores any acts
aimed at limiting the work of journalists, including limiting access to information, criminal
investigations, pressure to reveal sources and hate speech, notably hate speech against
independent media; [AM 302 Austrevicius]
is concerned that members of the Verkhovna
Rada fell victim to or even intentionally helped to spread targeted disinformation campaigns,
according to a recent analysis conducted by Ukrainian investigative journalist platforms;
[AM 291 Von Cramon]
17 e.
Regrets the numerous attacks on journalists and civil activists registered in the period
2017-2019; calls on the Ukrainian authorities to prosecute the perpetrators, ensure the safety
of media workers and journalists, and urges them to adopt a proportionate approach when
regulating the media; [AMs 272 Gahler, 292 Von Cramon, 314 Maurel, 319 Austrevicius]
17 f.
Urges the development of democratic, independent, pluralistic and balanced media
landscape in Ukraine which would bring to an end politically motivated persecution of media
channels, including revoking of licenses, and ensures protection of local journalists, opinion
makers and dissident voices from harassment and intimidation, allows non-discriminatory
access to online and offline information and meaningful civic participation, and safeguards
and guarantees human and civil rights; [AM 322 Austrevicius];
stresses that journalists,
human rights defenders and defence lawyers should be able to work independently and
without undue interference and intimidation; welcomes the work of Ukrainian human rights
organisations and the Crimean prosecutor who, temporarily from mainland Ukraine,
records human rights violations and abuses; all human rights violations must be investigated
and perpetrators brought to justice; [AM 323 Kalniete]
Compromise 26 - Subheading 6, Paragraphs 18, 18 a (new), 18 b (new), 18 c (new), 18 d (new)
AMs 329 (Sikorski), 330 (Paet), 331 (Gahler), 333 (Kalniete), 334 (Austrevicius), 335
(Austrevicius), 336 (Kalniete), 337 (Austrevicius), 340 (Austrevicius), 354 (Maurel), 372
(Kalniete), 411 (Gahler), INTA 12 first part OK
Trade and economic cooperation, labour and social affairs,
mobility of workers [AMs 329
Sikorski, 354 Maurel]
18.
Highlights that Ukraine is an important geopolitical, geostrategic and trading
partner for the Union; [AM 330 Paet] welcomes the significant increase in the EU-Ukraine
trade flow, as a result of which the Union is currently Ukraine’s largest trading partner;
regrets,
however, the relatively low amount of foreign direct investments that are coming to the
country; [AM 331 Gahler]
18 a.
Reiterates that Ukraine’s gradual integration in the EU Internal Market, as provided
for in the AA, constitutes one of the key aims of the association and supports in this regard
establishing conditions for enhanced economic and trade relations between Ukraine and the
EU as well as a broader process of legislative approximation [AMs 333 Kalniete, 411 Gahler]
conditioned upon full implementation of the DCFTA and compliance with legal, economic
and technical regulations and standards; [AM 334 Austrevicius]
18 b.
Calls on Ukraine and the EU to enhance cooperation on further liberalisation of
bilateral trade, including conclusion of the ACAA agreement, as well as the cooperation on
sanitary and phytosanitary measures, and customs; [AM 336 Kalniete, INTA 12 first part]
furthermore, calls for an increased sectoral cooperation between the EU and Ukraine, in
education and research, innovation, ICT sector and digitisation as well as green
technologies, in order to share know-how and best practices; moreover, calls for an
increased cooperation and gradually differentiated sectoral integration of Ukraine in the
Energy Union, the Transport Community and the Digital Single Market, among other areas;
[AM 335 Austrevicius]
18 c.
Calls on the Ukraine authorities to open up the country’s aviation market to
European companies, including low-cost companies [AM 337 Austrevicius]
and supports
signing the Common aviation area agreement at the earliest possible date; [AM 372 Kalniete]
18 d.
Calls on the Commission and the EEAS to conduct a credible needs’ assessment for
the Donbas region to establish a strategy for its social-economic recovery and suggests the
creation of an appropriate international framework for the reconstruction of Donbas; [AM
340 Austrevicius]
Compromise 27 - Recital I l (new), Paragraphs 18 e (new), 18 f (new), 18 g (new), 18 h (new)
AMs 94 part. (Maurel), 155 (Stefanuta), 158 (Kalniete), 316 (Von Cramon), 321 (Von
Cramon), 325 (Von Cramon), 341 (Austrevicius) OK
I l.
whereas the COVID-19 pandemic deepened the problems of Ukrainian healthcare
system: whereas despite the fact that according to Ukrainian law, healthcare is free, this is
not the reality that many of the country’s citizens experience when seeking medical
treatment; [AM 94 Maurel]
18 e.
Calls on the Ukrainian authorities to continue reforms in the public health system,
especially considering the devastating impact the COVID-19 pandemic had upon the
Ukrainian health system; [AM 155 Stefanuta]
notes that, according to the UNICEF, COVID-
19 created not only a public healthcare crisis, but also a socioeconomic crisis, which might
increase the poverty rate in Ukraine from 27.2 percent to 43.6 percent or even to 50.8 per
cent, therefore, encourages the Ukrainian government to implement comprehensive social
protection measures to mitigate the effect of Covid-19; [AM 341 Austrevicius]
18 f.
Welcomes Ukraine joining the EU Health Security Committee and the Early
Warning and Response System to take part in pan-European coordination of COVID-19
response actions in public health; [AM 158 Kalniete]
urges the Commission, the EU Member
States and Ukraine to increase cooperation on public health resilience and to exchange best
practice and work with civil society on establishing epidemic strategies focusing on the most
vulnerable groups; [AM 316 Von Cramon]
18 g.
Calls on the Ukrainian government to ensure that restrictive measures in response to
COVID-19 have a legal basis, are strictly necessary and proportionate to the objective of
protecting public health and saving lives (based on scientific advice), are subject to constant
review and lifted when no longer necessary, and are applied in a non discriminatory way;
calls on authorities to ensure that vulnerable and marginalised groups are not
disproportionately disadvantaged by the response to COVID-19, and take steps to address
pre-existing inequalities; [AM 321 Von Cramon]
18 h.
Urges Ukraine to tackle the still pervasive cronyism and corruption in its healthcare
sector and especially the ministry of health, and to effectively investigate any corrupt
activities, in particular attempts to procure medical equipment at disproportionately high
costs in the midst of the pandemic; [AM 325 Von Cramon]
Compromise 28 - Recital F, Paragraphs 22, 22 a (new), 22 b (new), 22 c (new), 22 d (new)
AMs 58 (Lopez-Isturiz White), 146 (Lopez-Isturiz White), 231 (Cimoszewicz), 238 (Fotyga),
348 (Gahler), 351 (Cimoszewicz), 356 (Von Cramon), 358 (Lopez-Isturiz White), 359
(Kalniete), 360 (Castaldo), 361 (Cimoszewicz), 363 (Lexmann), 367 (Cimoszewicz), INTA 17
(if adopted AMs 355 Wallace, 357 Madison fall) OK
F.
whereas support for modernisation, de-oligarchisation, reform and the fight against
corruption is still very high among Ukrainian citizens
and as such shall be matched without
further delay; [AM 58 Lopez-Isturiz White]
22.
Notes that no visible effects have been achieved in the de-oligarchisation of the
country, [AM 231 Cimoszewicz]
as oligarchs still have a strong impact on the Ukrainian
economy and politics, in particular in media ownership and influence over the judiciary and
the law enforcement system [AM 238 Fotyga]
; considers that creating clear and equal-for-
all rules in economy and politics may prove to be an effective method to de facto downgrade
the unofficial influence of a small group of the richest entrepreneurs on the functioning of
the state, including legislation and [AM 231 Cimoszewicz]
therefore calls on the Ukrainian
authorities to speed up the process of de-oligarchisation; [AM 238 Fotyga]
22 a.
Notes that a number of reforms have been introduced, leading to the deregulation of
the economy, greater transparency of public finances and an improvement of regulations
concerning concessions and public-private partnership, providing new opportunities for
both local and foreign investors; [AM 351 Cimoszewicz]
22 b.
However, regrets the increase of State-owned enterprises [AM 358 Lopez-Isturiz
White] and urges Ukraine to further advance the privatisation of state-owned enterprises
in
order to modernise and improve the functioning of its economy [AM 361 Cimoszewicz]
and
avoid oligarchisation [AM 360 Castaldo];
underlines the need for renewed commitment of
Ukraine to fight the influence of vested interests which, if neglected, could seriously
undermine the track-record of reforms thus far and Ukraine’s support measures altogether;
[AM 146 Lopez-Isturiz White]
22 c.
Calls on Ukraine to
effectively fight illegal logging [AM 356 Von Cramon]
in
accordance with sustainable forestry management and environmental protection standards
[AM 367 Cimoszewicz]
and to adhere to the future rulings of the Arbitration Panel
regarding [AM 359 Kalniete, INTA 17] the moratorium on unprocessed wood exports
, while
enforcing mandatory due diligence over the entire value chain of forestry commodities and
improving the governance in the forestry sector; [AM 356 Von Cramon]
22 d.
Urges to address the rural-urban divide in Ukraine through effective financial and
technical incentives to micro-, small-, medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), small-scale
farmers and family enterprises in rural and suburban areas, and through the improvement
of human connectivity and infrastructure between cities and countryside in order to foster
social cohesion; [AM 363 Lexmann] welcomes the adoption, in March 2020, of the law on
farmland turnover, which
should contribute to the unleashing of Ukraine’s huge potential in
the agricultural sector; [AM 348 Gahler]
Compromise 29 - Recitals I m (new), I n (new), Paragraphs 22 e (new), 22 f (new), 22 g (new),
22 h (new)
AMs 92 (Maurel), 98 (Maurel), 99 (Maurel), 125 (Lexmann), 344 (Cimoszewicz), 365 (Von
Cramon), 366 (Sikorski), 369 (Sikorski), 373 (Maurel), 374 (Sikorski), 385 (Maurel), 387
(Maurel), INTA 4 third part OK
I m.
whereas the DCFTA promised to approximate national law of Ukraine and national
standards to those of the EU, including in the social area; whereas, despite these
commitments, the implementation in the social sphere remains dissatisfactory; whereas
Ukraine has ratified the main international instruments, but continues to fail to implement
them; [AM 92 Maurel]
I n.
whereas despite the obligations under the Association Agreement and the numerous
calls by trade unions towards the government to apply the necessary measures to advance
social dialogue, the concept of tripartite consultation remains basically dysfunctional;
whereas after more than a decade since the establishment, the National Tripartite Social and
Economic Council (NTSEC) this authority remains weak and ineffective with no real
influence on social dialogue, constantly suffering from understaffing and inconsistence in
the coordination of its activities: whereas in 2019, out of 177 all-Ukrainian trade unions
registered by the Ministry of Justice only one third got the possibility to participate in
collective bargaining; [AM 98 Maurel]
22 e.
Calls on the Ukrainian government to also focus on the social dimension of trade
and sustainable development and closely monitor the economic and social effects of DCFTA
implementation; calls on the Ukrainian government to respect and enforce labour standards,
ratify and fully implement all ILO conventions; encourages the Ukrainian government to
continue EU approximation of labour standards, in particular as regards freedom of
assembly and social dialogue; welcomes the initiative for labour reform but emphasises the
need for broad consultations with trade unions and civil society and recommends to make
use of expertise by the International Labour Organisation on the matter; [AMs 344
Cimoszewicz, 365 Von Cramon, INTA 4 third part]
22 f.
Acknowledges the increased labour mobility between Ukraine and the EU, with the
emigration rates of between 2.2 and 2.7 million individuals, equivalent to13-16% of total
employment in Ukraine [AM 99 Maurel],
which on the one hand contribute to reducing the
supply of labour in Ukraine and labour shortages in certain professions, and on the other
hand constitute one of the factors pushing up wage growth for workers who stay in the
country and a source of inflow of remittances from migrants that has a notable impact on
the Ukrainian economy, representing an inflow equivalent to more than 8% of GDP; [AM
369 Sikorski]
calls for a further analysis of the economic and social benefits and impacts of
the post-2014 wave of labour emigration on both the economies and social security systems
of Ukraine and Member States; [AM 366 Sikorski]
underlines that it is essential to see a
governmental approach to developing a labour environment that provides decent working
conditions for employees of Ukrainian enterprises, including health and safety at work,
legally declared jobs with state social security coverage, salaries paid on time and in full, the
right to union membership and representation of interests, and meaningful collective
bargaining towards binding collective agreements; [AM 387 Maurel]
reiterates the need to
address brain-drain in Ukraine by promoting quality and inclusive education, formation and
training programmes, and creating job opportunities in view of providing socio-economic
perspectives to young people and families in their local communities; [AM Lexmann 125]
22 g.
Calls on the Association Council to prioritise the implementation of international
labour standards and EU legislation and practices in the areas of social policy, employment
and labour, collective bargaining regulation, social dialogue, gender inequality and labour
legislation reform, so as to ensure that the social partners' interests are balanced and
employees' rights are protected in compliance with the provisions of the Association
Agreement (Articles 419-421 and 424) and the ILO conventions (81, 87, 98, 117, 122, 129,
144, 154 and 173); [AM 373 Maurel]
reminds the Ukrainian government that the efforts to
improve the business climate to attract direct investments and promote economic growth
must not happen at the expense of the workers’ rights and working conditions; calls on the
Ukrainian government to systematically approach and institutionally support the social
dialogue and to undertake efforts to make the National Tripartite Social and Economic
Council an effective instrument of social dialogue; [AM 385 Maurel]
22 h.
Welcomes and calls for further development of the EU-funded programmes support
for both the modernisation of the vocational education system in Ukraine (“EU4Skills:
Better Skills for Modern Ukraine”) as well as for the business environment, which plays a
key role for potential returnees and for domestic entrepreneurs (anti-corruption, SME
support, tax and customs reform etc.) – both through sectoral grants and as conditions in
EU macro-financial assistance programmes; [AM 374 Sikorski]
Compromise 30 - Paragraphs 23, 23 a (new), 23 b (new), 23 c (new), 24, 24 a (new), 24 b
(new), 24 c (new), 24 d (new)
AMs 368 (Paet), 376 (Von Cramon), 379 (Von Cramon), 393 (Lopez-Isturiz White), 394
(Gahler), 395 (Olekas), 397 (Madison), 399 (Kalniete), 400 (Kalniete), 401 (Kalniete), 402
(Kalniete), 404 (Olekas), 405 (Gahler), 406 (Cimoszewicz), 407 (Kalniete), 408 (Austrevicius),
410 (Lexmann), 412 (Austrevicius), 417 (Gahler), 418 (Fotyga), 419 (Cimoszewicz), 422
(Fotyga), 424 (Gahler), INTA 7 second part (if adopted AMs 396 Wallace, 403 Wallace fall)
OK
23.
Welcomes the completion of the unbundling of Naftohaz in 2019 and the creation of a
legally independent gas transmission system operator
(GTSO) which is in line with the
EU
third energy package;
however, calls on the Ukrainian authorities to reinforce the GTSO’s
technical independence from Naftohaz; [AMs 394 Gahler, 395 Olekas]
welcomes the
liberalisation and opening of a competitive gas market for households; regrets however the
latest strikes against Naftohaz leadership, including the supervisory board of the company,
which undermine its independence and the reform progress in the area achieved so far; [AM
393 Lopez-Isturiz White]
23 a.
Underlines Ukraine’s role as a strategic transit country for gas and the need for the
modernisation of its national gas transmission system as well as the importance of its
integration with the EU energy market based on the effective implementation of the updated
Annex XXVII of the Association Agreement; [AM 417 Gahler]
welcomes the signature of
the long-term gas transit contract facilitated by the EU; [AM 399 Kalniete]
expresses
concern over the construction of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline and reiterates its long-term
fundamental political, economic and security risks; notes that the pipeline reinforces EU
dependency on Russian gas supplies, threatens the EU internal market, is not in line with
EU energy policy or its strategic interests [AM 418 Fotyga]
and has possible negative
consequences to war-torn Ukraine; [AM 397 Madison]
therefore, in line with its previous
positons, calls on to all, and in particular Member States and European stakeholders, to
make use of the available legal clauses to halt the project; [AMs 401 Kalniete, 410 Lexmann,
424 Gahler]
23 b.
Requests the European Commission to screen Ukraine’s compliance with European
Union acquis in energy sphere with a view to further integration of energy markets; [AM
400 Kalniete]
Fully supports Ukraine’s integration with European continental power grid
(ENTSO-E); [AM 402 Kalniete]
urges Ukraine to improve the coordination of policies and
actions of international (e.g. Commission, EBRD, EBI, World Bank, KfW, ENTSO-E,
Energy Community) and Ukrainian institutions supporting the Ukrainian energy sector;
[AM 419 Cimoszewicz]
23 c.
Condemns the extraction of gas by Russia from the Ukrainian shelf in the Ukrainian
exclusive economic zone and states that the EU does not recognise the seizure of the gas
fields by the Russian Federation in the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea and should support
legal actions of the Ukrainian authorities to stop these illegal extractions; [AM 422 Fotyga]
24.
Regrets that the new wholesale electricity market that started operating in Ukraine in
July 2019 is still not competitive
by EU standards [AM 406 Cimoszewicz];
hence, urges
Ukraine to complete its reform [AM 407 Kalniete]
and improve the level of compliance of
with EU law, first and foremost by enhancing Ukrenerho’s independence and avoiding
cross-subsidisation; [AM 405 Gahler]
calls on Ukraine to upgrade its existing power plants
to meet strict European environmental and safety standards;
24 a.
Welcomes Ukrainian government’s position to respect the commitment, undertaken
within the Energy Community, to comply with the applicable EU law, including
environmental and safety policy, thus not allowing the import of electricity from power plants
in neighbouring countries that are being built without complying with the requirements of
international conventions and the highest international environmental and safety standards;
[AMs 404 Olekas, 408 Austrevicius]
24 b.
Regrets that in the renewables power generation sector Ukraine is not yet meeting its
obligations towards the investors and that the delays in the payments to producers of
electricity from renewable energy sources threaten the further development of clean energy
sources in Ukraine; [AM 412 Austrevicius]
24 c.
Urges Ukrainian authorities to urgently complete modernisations of nuclear power
plants and investigate delays in these processes, in particular the upgrade of the Zaporizhia
Nuclear Power Plant; [AM 379 Von Cramon]
24 d.
Stresses the importance to increase infrastructure cooperation in the region, further
diversification of Ukraine’s energy supplies, energy efficiency, renewable energy sources,
and connectivity of Ukraine’s energy sector while ensuring environmental sustainability;
[AM 376 Von Cramon]
notes that the support and promotion of intra-regional trade among
Eastern Partnership countries will also create new economic opportunities, including for
SMEs; [AM 368 Paet, INTA 7 second part]
Compromise 31 - Paragraphs 25, 25 a (new), 25 b (new), 25 c (new), 25 d (new), 25 e (new)
AMs 381 (Kalniete), 382 (Von Cramon), 383 (Von Cramon), 398 (Austrevicius), 409
(Stefanuta), 413 (Austrevicius), 414 (Bocskor), 415 (Von Cramon), 416 (Cimoszewicz), 420
(Austrevicius), 421 (Austrevicius), 425 (Austrevicius), INTA 4 second part OK
25.
Commends the adoption by the Ukrainian Government in February 2019 of the strategy
for the state environmental policy up to 2030 and the national waste management plan
, EIА
and SEA laws, the laws adopted in the field of climate policy; [AM 413 Austrevicius]
urges
Ukraine to further enhance its engagement in the fight against climate change,
implementation of climate change policies, climate change mainstreaming in all areas of
policy-making, as well as to increase efforts on national commitments related to the 2015
Paris Agreement; [AM 382 Von Cramon, INTA 4 second part]
25 a.
Urges Ukraine to take action to put an end to the environmental damage caused by the
illegal and unsustainable exploitation of natural resources, such as illegal logging in the
primeval Carpathian forests,
which is also the main reason of the floods in the region; calls
on the EU to contribute to preventing illegal logging in the Carpathian Mountains, especially
in connection with the unlawful Svydovets ski resort project [AM 414 Bocskor]
as well as the
illegal and environmentally harmful method of amber extraction [AM 416 Cimoszewicz];
encourages Ukraine to invest in ecologically and environmentally safe and sustainable
touristic infrastructure [AM 414 Bocskor] and
calls on Ukrainian authorities to prevent
future projects from harming the environment by improving scrutiny, transparency and the
implementation of environmental impact assessments and due diligence; [AM 415 Von
Cramon]
urges Ukraine to provide open and convenient access to environmental
information, expansion of protected areas and to speed up the implementation of the
national emission reduction plan of major pollutants from large combustion plants;
encourages Ukraine to adopt legislation for development of sustainable transport; [AM 413
Austrevicius]
urges Ukraine to clean up and dispose of highly hazardous agricultural
chemicals in a safe and environmentally conscious way, particularly obsolete pesticides in
Kherson Oblast and other regions of Ukraine;
25 b.
Is deeply concerned about the environmental impact of the conflict in eastern
Ukraine, including dangers posed by the flooding of inter-connected mines; calls for an in-
depth evaluation of the conflict’s environmental impact to be followed-up with a reaction
plan designed to prevent an ecological collapse; [AM 425 Austrevicius]
proposes a “Donbas
demining” program between Ukrainian authorities and the international community; [AM
420 Austrevicius]
25 c.
Is also deeply concerned about the approximately 1,200 radioactive sources - used
for medical, industrial, or scientific purposes - located in and around the Donetsk region,
which pose serious health, safety, and ecological risks; calls on the OSCE, the Trilateral
Contact Group and the Normandy Four Format countries to counter the proliferation of
radioactive activities and the smuggling of radioactive substances in line with the nuclear
non-proliferation regime; urges all the parties to engage with relevant stakeholders in order
to safely transport high activity disused radioactive sources out of the Donbas region; [AM
421 Austrevicius]
25 d.
Welcomes Ukraine’s ambition to contribute to the European green deal goals and
calls on the Commission to adequately support Ukraine’s efforts, inter alia by establishing a
relevant structured dialogue, a roadmap and an exchange of information; [AMs 381
Kalniete, 398 Austrevicius]
calls on the Commission to ensure that the DCFTA does not
contradict the environmental objectives and initiatives set out therein; [AM 383 Von
Cramon]
25 e.
Welcomes the EU’s €10 million “Climate package for a sustainable economy”
programme, which will offer support to Ukraine in developing a holistic approach to
restructure its key economic sectors towards a low carbon economy; [AM 409 Stefanuta]
Compromise 32 - Citation 5 b (new), Subheading 25 a (new), Paragraphs 25 g (new), 25 h
(new), 25 i (new)
AMs 4 (Lexmann), 123 (Lexmann), 248 (Lopez-Isturiz White), 426 (Cimoszewicz), 427
(Cimoszewicz), 428 (Cimoszewicz), 429 (Cimoszewicz), 439 (Bocskor), 442 (Von Cramon),
444 (Bocskor), 445 (Bocskor) (if adopted AMs 2 Van Dalen falls) OK
-
having regard to the Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 of the European Parliament and of
the Council of 14 November 2018 listing the third countries whose nationals must be in
possession of visas when crossing the external borders and those whose nationals are exempt
from their requirement, [AM 4 Lexmann]
People-to-people contacts [AM 426 Cimoszewicz]
25 g.
Acknowledges the importance of cross-border mobility in strengthening people-to-
people contact [AM 123 Lexmann] and
welcomes the continued successful implementation
of the visa-free regime for the citizens of Ukraine, which has allowed Ukrainian citizens to
make more than 40 million trips to the EU countries since June 2017 [AM 248 Lopez-Isturiz
White, 439 Bocskor]
; underlines the importance of continuing to fulfil the visa liberalisation
benchmarks and of accelerating related reform efforts; [AM 248 Lopez-Isturiz White]
expresses the view that the visa-free regime has resulted in increased travel from Ukraine to
the EU, thus in better understanding between respective societies which is the best ground
for continued rapprochement; underlines that this approach must be further carried on and,
with the time, expanded; [AM 427 Cimoszewicz]
25 h.
Recalls the importance of Ukraine’s integration in EU frameworks, such as
Erasmus+, Horizon Europe, and Creative Europe, and the need to intensify the relevant
cooperation in the framework of current and future programmes; [AM 442 Von Cramon]
holds the view that the participation of Ukrainian students, as well as University and school
teachers, in the Erasmus+ programmes should be visibly enlarged; [AM 429 Cimoszewicz]
25 i.
Notes that the increased number of visits by Ukrainian citizens to Schengen countries
has challenged EU-Ukrainian border crossing points, which are congested and neither their
infrastructure nor their capacity is adequate to provide condign human conditions for people
crossing the border; notes that one of the most acute problems on the EU-Ukraine border,
especially on the Hungarian-Ukrainian and Polish-Ukrainian section, has been the long
waiting times to cross the border; [AM 444 Bocskor]
appeals to the Commission to launch a
dialogue with the aim of assuring that border crossing procedures are prompt and free of
corruption through, inter alia, investments, training of personnel and an effective
mechanisms for border crossing complaints; [AM 428 Cimoszewicz]
encourages the EU to
support the establishment of new border crossing points and expansion of existing on the
EU-Ukraine border through strict monitoring of funding to eliminate past abuses; [AM 445
Bocskor]
Compromise 33 - Paragraphs 26, 26 a (new), 26 b (new), 27, 27 a (new)
AMs 138 (Von Cramon), 144 (Cimoszewicz), 159 (Kalniete), 160 (Kalniete), 218 (Kalniete),
431 (Gahler), 432 (Cimoszewicz), 433 (Bilcik), 435 (Bilcik), 436 (Austrevicius), 437 (Gahler),
441 (Von Cramon), 443 (Gahler), INTA 14 first part OK
26.
Is pleased with the outcome of the ongoing meetings
and activities in the context of the
European Parliament's Jean Monnet
Dialogues for Peace and Democracy with the
Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and fully supports their continuation; is convinced that
deepening the parliamentary culture of dialogue
will ensure a strong, independent,
transparent and effective Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, essential for the country's democratic
and European future and in-line with the aspirations of Ukrainian citizens; [AM 431 Gahler]
26 a.
In this respect, encourages the Verkhovna Rada to actively continue its institutional
reform which aims at, inter alia, increasing legislative capacity and quality, political
oversight of the executive as well as transparency and accountability to citizens [AM 432
Cimoszewicz]
with a view to streamlining and prioritising the adoption of draft laws related
to the implementation of the AA, as well as to establish institutional safeguards to block
legislation which contravenes the commitments made under the AA, for example through a
stronger role of the Committee for European Integration [AM 138 Von Cramon],
whose
opinions should be binding; [AM 144 Cimoszewicz]
underlines the importance of European
Parliament’s continued engagement with the Verkhovna Rada in order to provide support
to such reform process; [AM 433 Bilcik]
stresses the importance to continue inter-
parliamentary cooperation and people-to-people contacts as best as possible in the context
of the COVID-19 pandemic; [AM 441 Von Cramon]
26 b.
Reiterates the importance of continued support to the European Union Advisory
Mission (EUAM) Ukraine and its role in the reform of the civilian security sector; [AM 435
Bilcik] welcomes the
opening of its field office in Mariupol, and hopes for tangible results,
according to the Missions’s mandate; [AM 218 Kalniete]
requests the Commission to step-
up its efforts in strengthening the capacities of Ukrainian authorities involved in AA/DCFTA
implementation; [AM 159 Kalniete]
requests the Commission to design tools necessary for
supporting Ukraine’s continuous alignment with EU acquis, in line with the relevant
decisions of the 22nd Ukraine-EU Summit; [AM 160 Kalniete, INTA 14 first part]
27.
Reiterates its call for the establishment of an Eastern Partnership University in Ukraine
;
calls on the Union’s institutions to reinforce and expand training programmes for Ukrainian
legal professionals
wishing to specialize in EU law [AM 437 Gahler]
and to strengthen the
capacity of Ukraine to participate in Horizon Europe, among other ways to boost people-to-
people contacts, academic and educational cooperation between the EU and Ukraine; [AM
436 Austrevicius]
27 a.
Welcomes the EU support for institutional capacity building for and trainings of the
Ukrainian civil servants organised by the College of Europe, Natolin; [AM 443 Gahler]
Compromise 34 - Paragraphs 27 b (new), 27 c (new)
AMs 127 (Lexmann), 137 (Austrevicius), 165 (Stefanuta), 205 (Lega), 305 (Von Cramon), 332
(Paet), 362 (Fotyga), 440 (Gahler), INTA 13 second part OK
27 b.
Calls on all EU institutions, the Member States and Ukrainian authorities to build
campaigns to better inform citizens about the opportunities stemming from the Eastern
Partnership initiative and AA/DCFTA implementation, raising awareness about the benefits
of closer association and linking them to the positive development on labour markets in
Ukraine and the other associated countries; [AM 127 Lexmann]
encourages the Ukrainian
authorities to to better communicate the benefits of the AA/DCFTA and of EU assistance to
the citizens of Ukraine and put more efforts in order to ensure that the AA/DCFTA
opportunities and EU assistance and programmes reach the local level, including the remote
parts of the country, in particular rural areas, so as to enable inhabitants to push for positive
changes in their communities; [AM 362 Fotyga, 440 Gahler]
27 c.
Commends the Ukrainian civil society, youth and NGOs for their activities in all
areas of public and political life, and particularly for their support to the implementation of
the AA/DCFTA, for addressing the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, for combatting
disinformation campaigns [AM 205 Lega],
for providing assistance and relief to IDPs and
other vulnerable groups and raising societal resilience and media literacy among the
Ukrainian people; encourages the Ukrainian central and local governments to continue
fostering close cooperation with the civil society, including an by providing an increased
financial support for its activities; [AM 137 Austrevicius, INTA 13 second part]
calls on the
Commission to prioritise support to these NGOs and civil society organisations; [AM 332
Paet]
welcomes, in this regard, the “Civil Society Facility” programme worth €20 million
which will support the strengthening of civil society organisations capacity to participate in
decision-making and public life; [AM 165 Stefanuta]
urges Ukrainian authorities, in the
light of several draft laws on the functioning and work of civil society organisations and
other associations, not to adopt any laws which are not in line with Ukraine’s domestic and
international human rights obligations, and to guarantee the functioning of civil society
without undue interference; [AM 305 Von Cramon]
Compromise 35 - Paragraph 25 f (new)
AMs 338 (Austrevicius), 339 (Austrevicius), 350 (Paet), 364 (Kalniete), 371 (Von Cramon),
430 (Cimoszewicz), INTA 6, INTA 8 second part, INTA 8 third part OK
25 f.
Welcomes the progress in the cooperation between Ukraine and the EU in the digital
area and encourages a further deepening of such cooperation, aimed at granting each other
the internal market treatment, including other sectors of mutual interest; [AM 364 Kalniete]
stresses the importance of the steps taken towards digital transformation and e-governance,
as well as the progress in approximating Ukraine’s legislation to that of the EU in electronic
trust services and electronic communications; encourages the Commission to further
support Ukraine’s efforts concerning media and information literacy, e-governance and
digital economy to reflect the current digital age and gradual integration into the EU Digital
Single Market, as well as to explore ways of reducing roaming fees between the EU and
Ukraine; [AM 350 Paet, 371 Von Cramon, AMs 338 Austrevicius, 430 Cimoszewicz, INTA
8 second part]
acknowledges in this regard the new 25 million euro EU programme
supporting e-governance and digital economy in Ukraine; [AM 350 Paet, INTA 8 third part]
encourages the expansion of the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) to Ukraine upon
meeting all technical and legal requirements; [AM 339 Austrevicius, INTA 6]
Compromise 36 - Recital E b (new), Paragraph 15 b (new)
AMs 96 (Austrevicius), 249 (Von Cramon), 286 (Austrevicius) OK
E b.
whereas the latest report by the OHCHR highlights the lack of progress in criminal
proceedings related to accountability for grave human rights violations allegedly perpetrated
by members of Ukrainian forces, as well as delays and insufficient progress in investigating
the Maidan-related crimes; [AM 96 Austrevicius]
15 b.
Urges the Ukrainian government to continue the investigation of transgressions
committed by members of Ukrainian forces against activists during the Euromaidan protests
and promptly deliver justice for the victims and their families; [AM 249 Von Cramon, 286
Austrevicius]
Compromise 37 - Paragraphs 25 j (new), 25 k (new), 25 l (new)
AMs 246 (Fotyga), 247 (Gahler), 346 (Gahler), 347 (Lopez-Isturiz White) OK
25 j.
Supports enhanced EU - Ukraine cooperation in particular on border management,
national asylum and identity management systems based on biometric means, countering
money laundering and financing of terrorism, combating organised crime and serious
international crimes and deepening cooperation between Ukraine and FRONTEX; [AM 247
Gahler]
25 k.
Notes that further progress has been made
concerning the alignment of Ukrainian
customs and border procedures
to the Union’s ones, as well as the ongoing institutional
reforms of the
Tax and Customs Administrations; welcomes the law on the Single Legal
Entity (SLE) for the State Customs Service (SCS), as well as the laws on Authorized
Economic Operators (AEO) and on the introduction of the National Electronic Transit
System (NCTS), that were adopted in Autumn 2019; [AM 346 Gahler]
also welcomes the
adoption in
July 2019 [AM 347 Lopez-Isturiz White] of
a “Strategy for integrated border
management up to 2025
” and the subsequent 2020-2022 action plan
; however, regrets the stall
of the EU-funded project for the modernisation of six checkpoints on the border with the
Union and deplores the very long waiting times that are still experienced at those borders.
Moreover, urges Ukrainian authorities to adopt all the outstanding measures and
regulations needed to make the AEO and NCTS systems fully operational and to ensure that
the new management of the SCS is swiftly appointed among competent candidates through
a transparent and unbiased public selection;
urges Ukrainian authorities to criminalize
smuggling of all goods as a crucial element of the integrated border management; [AM 346
Gahler]
25 l.
Calls for the EU and Ukrainian and Moldovan authorities to speed up the process of
blocking illegal trade and shutting down contraband channels in Transnistria as a safe
haven for smugglers which has been exploited by criminals and oligarchs and serve to
strengthen Russian influence and has been one of the major factors protracting the conflict;
[AM 246 Fotyga]
