UPD: 24/06/2014 EU Council Conclusions on the situation in Ukraine. Full text

EU Council at its meeting on 23 June adopted conclusions on the situation in Ukraine.

It is reported by the presidential press service.

The full text of the document.

1. The European Union welcomes Poroshenko at the post of the newly elected president of Ukraine. The EU supports the peace plan as a major opportunity to de-escalate the situation and endorses the decisive actions of the president to restore peace and stability in Ukraine, which he does with the inauguration, amid rising violence by pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine, and daily casualties. In particular, recently downed Ukrainian military plane, which led to the deaths of 49 people at Lugansk. This occurs despite the encouraging talks held with representatives of the Russian Federation and the OSCE head on the initiative of the President, as well as direct contacts between Ukrainian and Russian authorities at the highest level. It is now becoming increasingly important that these negotiations have brought rapid and tangible results.

The EU calls on all parties to immediately agree and abide by the cease-fire in order to stabilize the security situation, to achieve a de-escalation of the present and create the necessary conditions for the implementation of the peace plan Poroshenko President. In this context, the EU urges the Russian Federation to support the peace plan, to take effective measures to stop the flow of illegal fighters, weapons and equipment across the border of Ukraine, to use their influence on the separatists to stop the violence and to achieve disarmament and to continue the withdrawal of troops and refrain from accumulation at the Ukrainian border, and the Federation Council to cancel the mandate to use force on Ukrainian territory. The Council also urges the Russian Federation to use its influence to secure the immediate release of observers from the OSCE and other hostages from captivity armed separatists.

2. The Council recalls that the Commission, the EEAS and the Member States conduct preparatory work on possible targeted measures, as requested by the European Council in March, in order to be able to take further steps if the events in the East Ukraine will this demand.

3. The Council reiterates its strong condemnation of the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol, and will not accept it. The Council welcomes the ongoing work on the implementation of the legal consequences of the illegal annexation of Crimea. The Council decided to ban the import into the EU of goods originating in Crimea or Sevastopol, except that the certificate of origin is provided by the Government of Ukraine, or provide, directly or indirectly, financing or financial assistance, insurance and reinsurance, related to the import of such goods. The Council calls ESZV and the Commission to continue to monitor the situation and provide further necessary measures. The Council calls on UN Member States to consider the possibility of adopting similar measures in accordance with UN General Assembly resolution 68/262.

4. The European Union is also concerned about the sharp deterioration of the situation with human rights and humanitarian situation in eastern Ukraine and the Crimea, which was mentioned in the last report of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. In particular, cases of torture, killings and disappearances of journalists and activists. The European Union commends the current demands of the Ukrainian authorities, which we expect, will shed light on the responsibility for such acts. The Council calls on all parties to do their utmost to protect the civilian population and, as part of this, allow humanitarian organizations - in particular, medical personnel - to fulfill its role, guided by the principles of neutrality, impartiality and non-discrimination.

5. The EU calls on the Ukrainian authorities to continue their reform efforts, including with respect to the constitutional reform and decentralization reform, the rights of persons belonging to national minorities, judicial reform, fight against corruption and improve the business climate. These efforts should be the subject of a comprehensive national dialogue. The Council welcomes the continued active involvement of the Council of Europe and other international organizations to assist the Ukrainian authorities to ensure that these reforms in line with European standards. The EU reaffirmed its commitment to support the economic stabilization process in Ukraine two recent important commission payments totaling 750 million. Euro in the framework of a contract for the state-building and macro-financial assistance in accordance with the conditions set out in the Memorandum of Understanding. In this context, the Council looks forward to the high-level coordination meeting of donors in Ukraine, which will be held in Brussels on July 8.

6. The Council looked forward to the signing at the end of this week, the remaining provisions of the Association Agreement, including the deep and comprehensive free trade area. The EU is convinced that the Agreement will give an additional impetus to political and economic reforms that will ensure the modernization, strengthening of the rule of law and economic growth. The EU reaffirms its support for Ukraine regarding the previous application of the Agreement and its effective implementation.

The Council recalls the Commission's intention to start consultations at the political level with the Russian Federation and Ukraine regarding aspects of the implementation of the Agreement in order to remove the concern about its possible consequences. Threats to Russia to apply trade measures against countries which will sign the Association Agreement / DCFTA are not justified.

7. The Council agrees to establish a mission for the Common Security and Defence Policy to assist Ukraine in the field of civil security sector reform, including policing and the rule of law. In this context, the Council endorses the concept of crisis management, represented by the High Commissioner as a response to its conclusions of 12 May. On this basis it is possible to continue the operational planning with a view to a decision on the next steps at its next meeting and to begin deployment of the Mission in the summer. The Council underlines the importance of efforts with other EU coordination and coherence in the OSCE and other international actors.

8. The EU endorses the OSCE has already started work and its special monitoring mission. The EU will support the Mission's activities and looks forward to the continuation of its mandate.

9. Expressing regret that the consultations on gas supplies from the Russian Federation to Ukraine in the framework of trilateral gas talks, at the initiative and with the support of the European Commission, as of today, have not been completed, and gas supplies to Ukraine were transferred to the prepaid mode, and then stopped The Council calls on the parties as soon as possible to reach an agreement and supports the Commission in its attempts to contribute to a compromise solution. This agreement is important for the stabilization of the Ukrainian economy and ensuring security of supply and transit of natural gas to and through the territory of Ukraine on the basis of a transparent mode. In this context, the Council underlines the importance of continuing the reforms in the energy sector in Ukraine.

10. The Council reiterates the EU's readiness to strengthen interpersonal contacts between the citizens of the European Union and Ukraine in particular, through the process safe and controlled liberalization of the visa in full compliance with the agreed criteria, specific Action Plan on visa liberalization. In this context, the Council welcomes the fourth report of the Commission on the progress made on May 27, 2014. The Council shares the conclusion that Ukraine has fulfilled all the criteria of the first phase of the action plan for liberalization of visa regime and decides to initiate the second phase of evaluation criteria.

Council looks forward to the early presentation of the Commission impact assessment the possible impact on the security situation and migration in the European Union of the future visa liberalization for Ukraine as a priority in the second phase of the Action Plan on visa liberalization. The Council calls on the Commission to continue to support Ukraine in the implementation of the plan on visa liberalization action, and to continue to report on its possible impact on the situation of migration and security and the prospects for implementation of the criteria for visa liberalization action plan.