Civil Network OPORA is convinced that the decree, passed by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine to suspend the preparations for the signing of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, doesn't correspond to the Constitution of Ukraine, Laws of Ukraine “on the Principles of the Domestic and Foreign Policy”, and “on the Foundations of the National Security of Ukraine”, as well as decisions passed by the National Security and Defense Council. Shadowed adoption of a crucial for the country decision demeans Ukrainian society and discredits the country in the eyes of international partners. Unfortunately, the highest government officials were inconsistent in their statements and actions. In fact, they have misled the public about prospects for signing the Association Agreement.
Within their civic responsibility, OPORA activists are calling on the European Union to refuse from the creation of trilateral commission (Ukraine - EU-RF) proposed by the Government to consider integration issues. Foreign policy and foreign economic development are subject to the jurisdiction of Ukrainian people and the EU-Ukraine bilateral relations. Inclusion of the third party into the dialog of Ukrainian society and European Community is intolerable.
On November 21, 2013 an egregious event occurred. The CMU had passed a decree to suspend EU-integration processes in a week before the scheduled Summit in Vilnius. Such decision is contrary to the Constitution of Ukraine, and regulations of the Law of Ukraine on the Principles of the Domestic and Foreign Policy (Article 2(4)) regarding dutiful fulfillment of international commitments. The Constitution precisely defines functions of the legislative and executive branches, and provides that the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine shall determine the principles of foreign policy, and the CMU shall secure its implementation, adhere to the Constitution and Laws of Ukraine, as well as Decrees of the President of Ukraine.
Taking into consideration that the Article 11 of the Law of Ukraine on the Principles of the Domestic and Foreign Policy wasn't canceled, the Government's activities are contrary to its regulations, which require Ukraine's integration in European political, economic, and legal space aimed to become a member state of the European Union. The Government's decree is also contrary to the Article 6 of the Law of Ukraine on Foundations of the National Security of Ukraine, which provides that Ukraine's integration into European political, economic, and legal space shall be national priority of Ukraine. Moreover, the Decision of the National Security and Defense Council, adopted on March 12, 2013 is a proof of strategic partnership between Ukraine and the European Union.
The Parliament is an elected body, which is supposed to represent the society and interests of Ukrainian citizens. Voting in support of European aspirations of Ukraine and signing of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement was the most compromising decision of the current year. The constitutional majority of the Parliament supported adoption of this document (316 votes), and only 24 MPs voted against (1 from the PRU, 1 - unaffiliated, and 22 from the CPU). Therefore, Government's actions contradict to the decision taken by the constitutional majority of the VRU. Simultaneously, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has passed a decree to suspend the preparations for EU integration in a shadowed manner. Such actions bring the country into discredit in the eyes of the community and international partners.
Inconsistent actions of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and sudden suspension of EU integration process show that the government body is incompetent, as long as new hazards and circumstances of signing the Association Agreement were revealed only in one week before the Summit. The public is greatly disappointed with the Government's proposal to create a trilateral commission (Ukraine - EU-RF) to discuss relations in trade and economic issues. In fact, statesmen have themselves proposed to weaken authorship of Ukraine in foreign relations by including the third party into discussion of integration prospects of Ukraine. In terms of national and civic dignity, we are convinced that such position of the Government cannot be approved by the community.