Ukraine: European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee welcomes reform efforts amid ongoing war

On 5 June, the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament adopted a report assessing the latest developments in Ukraine and its progress on reforms relating to its EU membership application process.

In the text, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) reaffirm that nothing about Ukraine should be decided without Ukraine when it comes to ending Russia’s war of aggression. They also denounce the United States’ position of making US security guarantees for Ukraine conditional on the latter’s withdrawal from the Donbas region, insisting instead that Ukraine must be provided with credible security guarantees, including by EU countries together with its partners and allies, once the war has formally ended.

The report commends Ukraine’s extraordinary efforts to strengthen its democratic institutions and safeguard the separation of powers during wartime. At the same time, MEPs say there is a need to address the recent deterioration of relations between the legislative and executive branches to foster the division of powers and protect multi-party pluralism.

MEPs welcome Ukraine’s progress on judicial reform and the fight against corruption while calling for continued reform in these critical areas. They point out that a strong rule of law foundation will enable transparency and accountability in the reconstruction and economic recovery processes, improving the investment climate and international partners’ trust.

The report says Ukraine should do more to ensure the integrity of judicial office holders, through transparent appointments, and to keep anti-corruption bodies free from political interference. MEPs also call for continued measures to support freedom of expression and media independence.

On the issue of future elections, MEPs highlighted the importance of putting sufficient time into meeting the necessary standards and conditions for free and fair elections once martial law is lifted, rejecting the US administration’s pressure on Ukraine to hold elections with Russia’s war still ongoing.

In the text, the Foreign Affairs Committee MEPs also reiterate their firm conviction that Russia must pay for the destruction it has caused in Ukraine. They underline the need for predictable EU multiannual financial support for Ukraine to help the country to cover its recovery and defence expenses without yearly uncertainty. 

While they welcome the EU’s recently approved support loan for Ukraine, MEPs regret that the Commission and Council did not agree to use the cash balances associated with Russian sovereign assets, and call for continued work on the technical and legal aspects of such a loan.

The report will now be tabled for a vote in the European Parliament as a whole.

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