The European Parliament (EP) has reaffirmed the EU's commitment to advance relations with Ukraine by signing the association agreement, which could occur at the Eastern Partnership summit in Vilnius in November 2013.

This is stipulated in a draft European Parliament resolution on the situation in Ukraine, the text of which was obtained by UKRINFORM. The document will be voted on during a plenary session in Strasbourg on December 13 after a debate on December 12.

"The European Parliament confirms the EU's commitment to further advancing relations with Ukraine through the signing of the association agreement as soon as the Ukrainian authorities demonstrate determined action and tangible progress... possibly by the time of the Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius in November 2013," reads the draft document.

At the same time, MEPs noted that progress in political association and economic integration is dependent on Ukraine's tangible commitment to democratic principles, the rule of law, the independence of the judiciary and media freedom.

The European Parliament also welcomed the conclusions of the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting of December 10, 2012.

"The European Parliament calls on the Government of Ukraine to address the electoral irregularities, including the inconclusive results in some election districts, in dialogue with all political parties," reads the draft resolution.

In addition, MEPs called on the EU Council to advance EU-Ukraine dialogue on visa liberalization ahead of the Eastern Partnership summit in Vilnius in November 2013.

The resolution also urges the Ukrainian government to respect and implement the final decisions of the European Court of Human Rights on the ongoing case of former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and former Interior Minister Yuriy Lutsenko, "end the selective application of justice" and "free and rehabilitate politically persecuted opponents, including Yulia Tymoshenko, Yuriy Lutsenko and others."

Ukrinform