Mailis Reps and Marietta de Pourbaix-Lundin, the co-rapporteurs for the monitoring of Ukraine by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), believe that the Ukrainian politicians will find common ground and reach consensus on constitutional reform, their statement, following their visit to Kyiv reads.
PACE stressed that the Parliament should be the primary forum for political debate and deliberation between the different political forces in the country. “This is especially important in the context of constitutional reform, which is needed to satisfactorily address a number of crucial outstanding commitments with regard to the judiciary. It is important that the reform of the constitution is based on a consensus between political forces in the country that is as wide as possible. This is essential for the democratic legitimacy of the constitution,” the Assembly representatives said.
They noted that Ukrainian politicians are expected to overcome differences and to seek consensus on constitutional reform.
In addition, the co-rapporteurs welcomed the release of the former interior minister Yuri Lutsenko.
“This is an important step forward in resolving a situation that has regrettably dominated relations with the European institutions, including the Parliamentary Assembly, and which has hampered Ukraine's further European integration,” they said.
The co-rapporteurs expressed hope that “his release will now soon be followed by further steps to satisfactorily resolve the issue of imprisoned former government officials”.
“This, as well as addressing the deficiencies in the judicial system noted in Assembly Resolution, is crucial if the country is to meet its obligations to the Council of Europe, as well as for the completion of the Association Agreement with the EU, which we wholeheartedly support,” the statement reads.
