Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2012-05-22-Speech-2-076-000"
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"en.20120522.5.2-076-000"2
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"Mr President, it is true that concern over respect for human rights in Ukraine is a cause of legitimate doubts and most certainly demands a reaction. It is natural that the European Union should call upon Ukraine, too, to maintain human rights, democratic standards and the proper operation of its justice system.
It is legitimate to talk about the dubious situation in relation to Ms Tymoshenko, as well as about other examples which have given rise to doubt over respect for standards in Ukraine. However, a completely separate matter which should nevertheless be mentioned at this point is the question of boycotting Euro 2012 and the decision to do so which has, after all, been announced publicly by the European Commission. The question arises as to whether such a decision is, in fact, helpful in this matter, a matter about which we are all concerned – raising democratic standards. Are we sure that such a decision will also help resolve the dramatic situation of the former Premier of Ukraine?
We know today that the Ukrainian opposition has not joined this kind of demand for a boycott or for the outright removal of this great sporting event from Ukraine. We know the majority of the Ukrainian people have been waiting five years for the chance to enjoy the experience associated with this celebration of European football. We also saw in this the chance for greater integration and a way to bring the Ukrainian people closer to the European Union and to Europe. We know, too, that a decision to impose a boycott of any kind can only push Ukraine into the hands of Putin’s Russia, who today is already posing as a defender of Ukraine and criticising the European Commission, something which is certain to gain him points with a fairly sizeable section of the Ukrainian nation.
This is something which requires both tact and wisdom. The question also arises about our standards here in the European Union. Are we going to be equally principled in the case of the Sochi Winter Olympics, which are being organised by Russia – a country which also occupies one third of the territory of the independent country of Georgia? Are we going to be equally principled in the case of Belarus, which is hosting the World Ice Hockey Championship – are we going to demand a boycott there too? Finally, on what grounds is the European Commission making statements about a boycott, since, in fact, it is not authorised to speak on the subject? Ms Ashton has not said anything here, and she of course is authorised to take a position and to coordinate that position with individual Member States. This, too, is missing, because there has been no consultation of the position on this with Poland, which is, after all, co-hosting the European Championship."@en1
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