The 15th Sitting of the Committee on Parliamentary Liaison between Ukraine and the European Union (CPL) launched on November 4, 2010 in Kyiv was adjourned in Odesa on November 5, 2010.
During the off-site part of the sitting, the participants discussed the issues on cooperation with European Union the in the projects on regional development in Odesa region, transfrontier cooperation with Romania and Moldova (in the lower Danube), commencement of the local transfrontier movement with Romania, activity of the EU Border Assistance Mission to Moldova and Ukraine (EUBAM), problems and perspectives of international cooperation in Danube river basin.
Co-chairman of CPC from the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Borys Tarasiuk emphasised that the transfrontier cooperation was an essential and integral part of the state policy of regional development. According to him, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Committee on Parliamentary Liaison between Ukraine and the European Union had initiated several parliamentary hearings dedicated to the transfrontier issues.
At the 15th Sitting of the Committee on Parliamentary Liaison between Ukraine and the European Union, the Final Act and Recommendations were adopted.
As to the state of relations between Ukraine and the EU, the CPC calls for a common approach of Ukraine and the EU to the European integration of Ukraine supported by political and economic tools. The document reads that CPC welcomes declarations of the Ukrainian authorities that the European integration remains among the strategic priorities of Ukraine both in foreign and in domestic policy; appreciates the results of the 14th Sitting of the Council on Cooperation between Ukraine and the EU in Luxemburg on June 14, 2010 and further implementation of the Agenda of the Ukraine-EU Association, as well as the negotiations on the Agreement on Association.
The participants of the meeting called for strengthening the cooperation between Ukraine and the EU in trade and economic sphere. They called on the both Parties for the efficient cooperation on the free trade zone, and requested "the EU to extend the four liberties onto Ukraine."
Pursuant to the document, CPC assumes that together with the implementation of Common Declaration on the modernization of gas-transport system of Ukraine adopted in March 2009, access of Ukraine to the Agreement on Energy Cooperation may considerably strengthen the cooperation between Ukraine and the EU in the energy sector.
Furthermore, CPC upholds the Final Report of CPC Working Group on Visa Policy between Ukraine and the EU, calls on the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and the European Parliament to take it into consideration and discuss it at the plenary meetings.
The participants of the meeting call on all the member states neighboring with Ukraine to conclude the agreements on rules of the local transfrontier movement with Ukraine; to broaden the local transfrontier movement regime between EU members countries and neighboring states.
The document also states that the reforms in Ukraine aimed at the improvement of the political and economic spheres, and attainment of the EU standards, which will be successful only if followed by strengthening of the democracy and the rule of law.
The members of the 15th Sitting discussed the Resolution of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly on the functioning of the democratic institutions in Ukraine of October 5, 2010, and called on the Ukrainian authorities to take its recommendations into consideration. They also welcomed the willingness of PACE to assist Ukraine in strengthening of the democratic institutions and society.
CPC welcoms the new stage of cooperation between UKraine and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and calls on the Ukrainian authorities to follow all the requirements of IMF.
The Final Act and Recommendations of CPC emphasize the role of opposition in a stable operation of the state mechanism, and call on the Ukrainian opposition to work efficiently.
As to the cooperation in the common neighborhood, CPC takes account of the progress reached within the Eastern Partnership and the European Neighborhood Policy (ENP), calls for the improvement of ENP Concept to provide a higher level of cooperation with the Eastern Europe.
The participants of the meeting welcomed assistance of the Ukrainian Parliament in the foundation of EURONEST Parliamentary Assembly to establish a parliamentary supervision over the activity and development of the Eastern Partnership.
Moreover, CPC deems necessary to foster the cooperation between Ukraine and the EU in the the foreign policy and security.
CPC highly appreciated the effective work of EUBAM mission as an example of mutually profitable and successful cooperation between Ukraine and the EU.
They also stressed that as demonstrated in the situation with a leakage of toxic substances in Hungary on October 4, 2010, the Danube cooperation can not be separated, it should be based on the principles of the common responsibility and strategic participation of all the states.