Senior German MEP says /time is running out/ on EU/Ukraine trade deal

by Martin Banks

The plan is to sign the deal in Lithuania at the end of this month but the uncertainty about ex-Ukraine PM Yulia Tymoshenko has fuelled doubt about whether it will go ahead.

Ukraine's parliament is to vote later on Wednesday on legislation which would allow Tymoshenko to leave Ukraine for medical treatment abroad.

EU monitors have set Wednesday as the deadline for resolving the Tymoshenko issue.

But Elmar Brok, who chairs the European Parliament's influential foreign affairs committee, told this website he is doubtful the deal will now be done.

His comments come after imprisoned Ukrainian opposition leader Tymoshenko accused President Viktor Yanukovych of seeking to undermine the country's EU aspirations.

She said on Wednesday that the arrest of her lawyer, Serhiy Vlasenko, was "the last stab" in the heart of hopes of signing a long-awaited agreement with Brussels.

Mr Vlasenko, who was detained on Monday on suspicion of beating his former wife, has been freed on bail. He has dismissed the charges against him as a "total lie."

Also speaking on Wednesday, Brok, a centre right German MEP said, "It is 5 to 12. Time is running out fast. Ukraine must fulfils the EU's conditions, or there will be no signature to the agreement in Vilnius. The ball is therefore in the hands of the Ukrainian government.

"I sincerely hope the Ukrainian government takes the necessary steps to fulfil all requirements, but all measures undertaken must be credible and lasting.

"While we have seen progress in the cases of the electoral law and judicial reform, the Ukrainian government still needs to show its sustained commitment to the EU's conditions and a willingness to end selective justice and provide a solution for the case of Yulia Timoshenko.

"The association agreement would open up a new future for Ukraine and give its businesses and its citizens new opportunities, whereas in a closer association with Russia under uncertain political and legal conditions Ukraine would always end up as a junior partner without much influence over its own destiny.

"It is therefore up to the Ukrainian government to walk down the path that will lead to a stable and more prosperous future for the country and its citizens by opening up to Europe.

"But this process must be based on respect for the rule of law, democracy, and an end to selective justice, including the release of Ms Timoshenko."

Brok added,"The last few days have given the impression however that the government and the Party of the Regions try to make the release of Yulia Timoshenko and her departure abroad for medical treatment impossible."

Further comment came from British MEP Roger Helmer who, speaking of the arrest of Tymoshenko/s lawyer, said, "This simply continues the pattern of political persecution.

"The government has created a situation in which any action they take against the Tymoshenko camp cannot possibly be seen to have legitimacy."

Elsewhere, James Sherr, an associate fellow in the Russia and Eurasia program at Chatham House in London, said the Tymoshenko is only a "stumbling block" and that there are "deeper issues."

He said, "First, unless Ukraine changes the way the state and economy work, it could suffer hardship under the free-trade area and possibly damage the EU’s single market.

"This is why, in December 2012, the EU made the association conditional on progress in three areas -- justice, the electoral system and institutional reform (a polite euphemism for severing the link between politics, business and crime).

"The past few weeks have witnessed unprecedented activity in Ukraine to make the required changes to legislation."

Sherr went on, "Several high-profile figures subjected to selective justice have been released from prison or had travel bans lifted. Nevertheless, perceptions persist that these efforts are for show and that Ukraine’s patrimonial system of power and rent-seeking remains firmly in place.

"So although, for example, the criminal code has been much improved, the interior ministry, the prosecutor’s office and tax service remain unreformed. Most personnel associated with the malpractice Ukraine has agreed to end remain in place. What does this say about the government’s intentions?"

He warned, "If the EU signs the agreement with Ukraine, it will vindicate the tactics of a tenacious, uncooperative and unpopular government."