Sant explains abstention: Timing of EU-Ukraine association ‘imprudent’

Labour MEP Alfred Sant has said the timing and presentation of an EU-Ukraine association agreement this week was “imprudent” and seemed to show little concern to the interests of Eastern Ukrainians who are locked in a protracted conflict with the Ukrainian National Guard.

Sant was one of the few socialist MEPs this week to abstain on the agreement, which was approved in the European Parliament as well as in the Ukrainian assembly.

“It’s a positive development but it is also taking place within current geopolitical circumstances,” Sant told MaltaToday. “I felt the timing for this political gesture was totally imprudent and I’m not convinced it gives enough importance to the wishes and interests of the people of Eastern Ukraine,” the former Labour prime minister said.

“The debate in EP has not quelled my reservations, which I believe are crucial due to the serious threat of war in Europe because of what is taking place in Ukraine.”

Sant said he agreed with statements by foreign minister George Vella, who said the situation could have been dealt with better from the start when the EU started economic association negotiations without any special consideration for the geostrategic and diplomatic impact this would have.

“The consequences were just ignored [when] the negotiation process had to respect this dimension,” Sant said.

The MEP said the situation had been complicated by the upscaling of economic and political sanctions from both sides of the EU-Russian divide, and military complications. “In such a delicate situation as this one, the utmost prudence is required, which does not seem to have been part of the triumphalism inside the European Parliament on Tuesday.”

On their part, Nationalist MEPs set much store in having been part of the 535 MEPs who voted in favour of the Association Agreement between the European Union and Ukraine.

“It is the first time in the EU’s history that people died for an association agreement with the EU. In Maidan hundreds died for this agreement because this is the same association agreement that Yanokovich rejected in 2013 and yet MEP Alfred Sant abstained. What are the reasons informing his decision?” head of the PN delegation David Casa asked.

“The Ukrainian people have suffered greatly as a result of their quest to seek greater ties with the European Union. It was the very Association Agreement we voted on yesterday that triggered the turmoil and bloodshed last year leading to the overthrowing of Viktor Yanukovych.

“As a small country on Europe’s periphery Maltese MEPs should be all the more sensitive to Ukraine’s plight. We should be informed of the reason for the abstention of Labour’s head of delegation. The Prime Minister should also state whether he supports this position.”

MEP Roberta Metsola said that it was unfortunate that the far-right and the far-left factions in the European Parliament voted against the agreement. “I have voted in favour as it furthers the relations between the EU and Ukraine, drawing the latter closer to Europe while strengthening the close historical relationship and progressively move closer economically and politically. Every MEP should give their reasons to the public for the way they vote.”

Therese Comodini Cachia said the EP vote reflected the choice of Ukrainians in favour of Europe and the aspiration of an independent country that wants to contribute to Europe.

Standing rapporteur Jacek Saryusz-Wolski (EPP-Poland) was critical of MEPs that diverted from the overwhelming support for the vote on Ukraine, noting that turmoil across Europe’s borders was more likely to affect peripheral member states and that MEPs from such areas should be all the more inclined to be supportive and show solidarity.

Ukrainian agreement

The deal will establish a deep political association and economic integration between the EU and Ukraine and provide for mutual free market access.

MEPs backed the agreement with 535 votes in favour, 127 against and 35 abstentions.

“This is an historic moment,” said EP President Martin Schulz in his address to MPs in the Strasbourg and Kiev chambers via a video link.

“The two parliaments freely determined to vote today at the same time on this agreement. This is free democracy, the opposite of directed democracy. The European Parliament has always defended the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine and will continue to do so”, he added.

The political provisions take Ukraine one step closer to the EU, by opening new channels for political dialogue and establishing ground rules for cooperation in areas such as energy, transport, and education. It requires Ukraine to implement reforms and respect democratic principles, human rights and the rule of law.

Among other rules, the deal provides for greater movement of workers, sets targets for establishing a visa-free travel regime and aligning the two sides’ regulatory systems by laying down detailed timetables for Ukraine to transpose parts of the EU acquis legislation into its national laws and put them into effect.

The Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement part substantially integrates the EU and Ukraine markets, by dismantling import duties and banning other trade restrictions, albeit with specific limitations and transitional periods in “sensitive” areas, such as trade in agricultural products. It will also partially integrate public procurement markets.

To take full legal effect, the deal has to be ratified by the 28 EU member states. So far, it has been ratified in six member states, but several years may elapse before the process is completed in all member states.

It was planned to apply the trade rules from 1 November this year, but last Friday 12 September the EU, Ukraine and Russia agreed in talks to delay the provisional entry into effect of the trade rules until 31 December 2015.