Schulz: "The European Parliament endorses the European perspective of Ukraine"

The President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz i made the following statement on the situation in Crimea and Ukraine:

"I follow the events in Crimea with great concern. I call on Russia to avoid exacerbating those tensions. The European Parliament fully supports the unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine and calls on all third countries to respect it.

I welcome the resolution on Ukraine adopted today by the European Parliament. It sends a strong message to the Ukrainian people of the European Union's support in this historic moment for Ukraine. The European Parliament endorses the European perspective for Ukraine, calls for short and long term financial assistance in order to help Ukraine avoid economic collapse and expects a swift finalisation of the visa liberalisation agreement.

Today in Ukraine reconciliation is needed and not revenge and retribution, yet fair justice has to be delivered for all grave human rights violations committed. The Council must move fast to enforce the agreed individual visa-ban and asset-freeze measures. The EU should not become a harbour for individuals who used violence against peaceful protesters and caused so many tragic deaths.

I also welcome today's approval by the Verkhovna Rada of the new government headed by Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk. I wish him and the whole team best of luck in a very difficult and challenging period ahead, taking unpopular but necessary austerity measures and implementing deep and comprehensive reforms. We stand ready to help on the reform path and to sign the Association Agreement with Ukraine as soon as the new government is ready to do so.

I sincerely hope that presidential elections on May 25 will be free and fair. It is deeply symbolic that they will take place on the same day as European elections and I hope that they will mark a new page in Ukraine's history."