EUParliament asks Cooperation with EurAsian Economic Union (Russia+) + Political Solution in Ukraine

*Strasbourg/EU Parliament/Angelo Marcopolo/- By adopting a last-minute Amendment, EU Parliament launched, for the First Time, a call for  the EU to "explore" possibilities of "Cooperation" with the "EurAsian Union" led by Russia, the same week during which it endorsed, earlier, the EU - Ukraine Association deal, a key part of which saw its implementation Postponed for Jan. 2016, while EU has scheduled a series of meetings with the Russian Government in an attempt to find a compromise mainly on the forthcoming EU exports in Ukraine, which used to benefit also of an access to the neighbouring and huge EurAsian market : Something which is Hotly debated among various MEPs from all sides of the Political spectrum, as it results from the Replies of several mainstream MEPs to relevant "EuroFora"s Questions;  (See Infra).

Originating initially from a premonitory Idea expressed by German Chancellor Angie Merkel at a Press Conference as early as since the December 2013 EU Brussels' Summit, (See relevant "EuroFora"s NewsReport from the spot : ...), and supported by various other key Euro-Politicians, (f.ex. the Armenian President Sargisyan at CoE's Autumn 2013 Parliamentary Assembly's session : See : "EuroFora"s NewsReport : .., and/or the Austrian rotating Chairmanship of the CoE, etc), that New Idea seems able to help Open a perspective for the creation of a Huge PanEuropean Trade Area, from Portugal up to Vladivostok, which could trigger muich needed Investments and Growth throughout the European Continent.

    => In particular, according to the final, EU Parliament's amended Resolution, EU "Commission should Explore the modalities of EU cooperation with the Eurasian Economic Union", consisting mainly of Russia, Belarus, and Kazakstan, expected to enlarge also to Armenia and  Kyrgyzstan , as well as other former CIS Countries as, f.ex. Tajikistan later-on, and eventually Azerbaidjan, etc, with its forthcoming full entry into force due on Jan. 2015, (that Ukraine was reportedly considering whether to join, before the February 2014 Deadly "Snipers" Clash in Kiev). + EEU already includes a "Customs Union", which has started to enter into force as early as since 2010.

    Various MEPs, from Different EU Countries and often Opposed Political Groups, including both Rightists and Leftists, etc., even among those who had earlier Voted against the ratification of EU - Ukraine's Association Agreement (accepted, nevertheless, by a clear Majority of EU Parliament last Tuesday : See relevant "EuroFora"s NewsReport, already sent to Subscribers/Donors earlier), told "EuroFora" that they would certainly Vote in Favor of any such EU - Ukraine Deal, if it helped also to ameliorate peaceful and mutually beneficial EU - Russia cooperation in the Future, Kiev playing the role of a Strategic "Bridge" between the EU and the EurAsian economic arean (+ See Infra).

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    + In addition, with that same Amendment, EU Parliament "invites the New HR/VP (i.e. current Italian Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini, due to become soon EU's New High Representative for External Action), to take a Proactive role in Facilitating Dialogue between Ukraine and Russia, as well as the EU’s Dialogue with Russia", (etc : See also Infra).
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    Even more important, from the Political point of view, is also the fact that the relevant Amendment was adopted by a crystal Clear Majority of MEPs' Votes : 334 in favor, compared to only 254 against, (the Part concerning the promotion of  "Dialogue" and "Peaceful Solutions"

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    + Similarly, an even much more Wider Majority of MEPs supported also another last-minute  succesful Amendment, by which EU Parliament "Strongly underlines .... that there is No Military Solution to the Ukrainian Crisis", with 463 Votes against only 129, as well as that, in consequence, "there Should be a Political Solution to this Conflict".

    ++ Advancing even Further, a call for the incoming, New EU's High Representative on External Action, (current Italian Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini),  to, moreover, become "Proactive"  also "in Promoting Peaceful Solutions to Conflicts" as that of South-Eastern Ukraine, was even supported by a Record-High Majority of MEPs  with 465 Votes in favor, against only 95 !

    This was, notoriously, a Key Message, Timely expressed, earlier on August 23, also by the German Chancelor Angie Merkel, during her premonitory visit to Kiev, just before the Dissidents' defense forces started to win back a fast-growing part of their lost territories, for the First time since the 5 Months-long Kiev Army's Military Attacks against Donetsk/Luhansk regions (April - August 2014). Initially, this was also stressed to "EuroFora" by the New President of the EU Commission, long-time former Prime Minister of Luxembourg and f. Chairman of €uroZone, Jean-Claude Juncker, in a Statement that he gave us as early as since the Beginning of April (5/4/2014) at EU Parliament in Strasbourg, (See : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/junckerforpoliticalsolutioninukraine.html ).

    + The Biggest Majority of MEPs was gathered, however, when 481 Votes in favor, opposed to only ...38 "No",  strongly "Stressed" that any EU "restrictive Measures", alias Sanctions, previously taken vis a vis Russia, must be clearly "Reversible and Scalable",  "depending on the Situation in Ukraine", i.e. backing the idea earlier expressed mainly by Chancelor Merkel as well as others, who have pointed at the currently evolving steps towards CeaseFire and the commencement of a Peace Process.

    But, curiously, on all these points (Comp. Supra), it was now .... mainly Liberal and/or Socialdemocrats' MEPs who had initialy took the initiative (followed afterwards by the large Majority of ChristianDemocrats/EPP MEPs) to Table 4 Amendments practicaly Reminding ChristianDemocrat/EPP Merkel's  (and Juncker's) positions....

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    On the Contrary,  a Negative "call.. on( (EU) Member States" who have made Cooperation Deals with Russia, to ..."Cancel (sic !) planned Agreements with Russia in the Energy sector, including the "South Stream" Gas pipeline", ( notoriously scheduled by Russia, together with Bulgaria, Greece, Sernia, Hungary , Austria , Italy, and other EU Countries, in order to ensure Gas deliveries to the EU without Risk of Blockade by Ukraine, as in the Past), wasn't endorsed but just by a Tiny Difference of only  .. 2 (Two) Votes more, (220 - 218, between MEPs in favour and MEPs against or abstaining), so that a mere Change of views from just 2 out of 750 MEPs could in theory Modify EU's stance at any moment, revealing a blatant Lack of any real Political Support for such a counter-productive threat at all...
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    Last, but not least, nevertheless, it's by a clearly visible Majority that EU Parliament adopted also another last-minute Amendment Today, warning about the Fact that, despite the recent, more or less operational, Cease-Fire, and 3 Russian Humanitarian Convoys, nevertheless, after more than 5 Months of Heavy, Deadly and Destructive Kiev Military's Attacks against Dissident Donetsk/Lugansk Regions, still Today,  that "Eastern Ukraine is facing a Health Emergency, with Hospitals not fully functioning and a Shortage of Medicines and vaccines", according also to a "recent Alert by the World Health Organization".  

    This is added to the overall "Catastrophic Humanitarian Situation in Eastern Ukraine", for which EU Parliament's Resolution "Expresses ... Deep Concern",  "especially with regard to the upcoming Winter",  pointing out the "Urgent Need to provide Humanitarian Assistance and relief to the Population in the conflict-affected areas"; as well as to the "internally Displaced People and Refugees" (mainly towards Russia, even if many reportedly Started to Return Back Home, since the recent Bilateral, unlimited CeaseFire. See relevant Statements of CoE's SG Jagland to "EuroFora" on that development at : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/coesgjaglandonukraineceasefireafterkievmoscowwalesvisits.html ).

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      -  Speaking earlier this week to "EuroFora" on EU - Russia relations in the forseable Future are concerned, as a matter of General Principle, the President of EU Parliament's Biggest Group of MEPs, that of ChristianDemocrats/EPP, Manfred Weber, topicaly stressed that he was personaly in favour of Building Bridges for the Future between EU and Russia, when this is really desirable from both sides, (as he told us on the occasion of another particular issue : See relevant "EuroFora"s DraftNews, already sent  to Subscribers/Donors previously).

Otherwise, it would inevitably look as a strange "Double Standards" policy, in fact contrary to real European Interests, if only Russia was repeatedly "Sanctioned", (on pretext of the Crimea and/or Donetsk/Luhansk Popular Referenda, following the unelucidated yet , Deadly Kiev's "Snipe" incident which notoriously crushed brutaly a written Agreement for Political Change via a National Unity compromise, brokered under auspices of EU Foreign Ministers from Germany, France and Polland), while Turkey, which persists in its blatant Military Invasion and Occupation of the Northern part of Cyprus during 40 Years now, repeatedly condemned and denounced as illegal by UNO's SC, the EU, etc., is still Today paying even shameless"official Visits" there by its Heads of State until Today, as denounced in the relevant Debate of EU Parliament's Plenary, (at the same time that she invited to Saveguard the same Standards on "Territorial Integrity" for all European States), the most Popular MEP of Cyprus, Heleni Theoharous, (a mainstream ChristianDemocrat/EPP, from current President Anastassiades and Chairman Weber's political group).

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    + However, on the specific issue of an eventual solution to the problem of how to conciliate the EU - Ukraine Free Trade deal (part of the EU Association Agreement endorsed by EU Parliament and ratified by the Ukranian Rada earlier this week), with Ukraine - Russia pre-existing Trade relations, and whether this might help to advance towards a Wider Cooperation between the EU and the EurAsian Economic Union, EU Parliament's Rapporteur on Ukraine, Jacek Saryusz-Wolski, EPP Group's vice-Chair and Foreign Affairs Spokesman, appeared at least partly Cautious, in his Reply to a relevant "EuroFora"s Question during a Press Conference :

 - "About the remaining (EU - Russia) Negotiation" on EU - Ukraine Trade Area, "as Chancelor Merkel and others had suggested since December 2013 in Brussels' "(EU Summit), i.e. "to search to find out if there might be a possibility, or not, to Conciliate, at least partly, the EU Trade Area with the EurAsian part, of Russia, Kazakstan, Belarus, etc., so that Ukraine would have No Problem", but would rather serve "as a Bridge", now, as you know, "there are (EU - Ukraine - Russia) Negotiations, to which is related the Postponement" of one part of the EU - Ukraine Trade Deal (until the end of 2016), "officialy".  all EU with Russia and beyond", (i.e.) towards "a Big Market, as they say, from Portugal up to Vladivostok. Do you think that this can be done, with good faith, from both sides", "is there, Economicaly and Politicaly, a realistic possibility to Find a conciliatory Formula" , "or it's something too Difficult to realize ?", "EuroFora" asked Sariuz-Wolski.

 - "One Country can belong to two Trade Zones", started positively EU Parliament Rapporteur's reply to "EuroFora"s Question.

- "But, it can't belong to a Free Trade Zone, and a Customs' Union", experienced Polish MEP Saryusz-Wolski, (former President of EUParliament's Foreign Affairs Committee), went on to add, according to his personal view.

=>  - "So, this is the Answer". In other words : "The Short Answer is <<No !>>", he found, in Conclusion, (at least as far as the issue of Ukraine itself, as an individual Country, is concerned).
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    + The approach appeared quite Differend, from the point of view of the EuroLeft Group, as its Spokesman on International Trade issues, German MEP Helmut Scholz, replying to an "EuroFora"s Question, ...

 
 

 - "On Ukraine, in the Future, as far as Negotiations are  concerned to Enlarge, or to find a Compromise for the (EU - Ukraine) Trade Agreement to be able to go beyond" that, and "include Russia (etc),  up to Vladivostok : If a Deal is found, would you support it ?", "EuroFora" asked the "EuroLeft" Group's Press Conference at EU Parliament's September 2014 Plenary session in Strasbourg.

 - "That would mean a (Unified) Big Market, as they say : From Portugal, up to Vladivostok, and Not (on the Contrary) a (Dividing) Wall", we highlighted.
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 - "Of course; we see Ukraine as a possible Bridge, a Link betwen the 2 Big  Integration Projects that exist" : the EU on one side, as the already established, organized, Integrative Unit, and the Emerging EurAsian Union, on the other hand", EuroLeft Group's Spokesman replied to "EuroFora"s Question positively.

 - "But, the (EU) Commission (i.e. out-going "Socialist" EU Commissioner Fuhle) has always said that there is an  InEquality between the existing (EU) Customs Union and what is Developed on the Other side", he reminded.

- "So, is Ukraine organized in such a way that it's actually possible to lft a Cause of the current Tension, if, in other words, can be, finaly, an Agreement on Economic Cooperation between the two sides, and we would see that as a step towards the Right Directiion", Scholz

 - In this regard, "we have always said to (EU) Commissioner Fule and others, that we want to know what happens with this (EU - Ukraine) Association Agreement, and the Free Trade section of it"; in the light of this Future, Social and Economic Reality in Ukraine ; What will happen with the Bilateral .. between EU and Russian Federation, on the EU and Ukraine (relation), etc., Scholz added.  

    - "And they (out going EU Comission) have said : - "Oh, we have to Think about this, and Draft some New Plans".  "But, in the Meanwhile, so many things have happened, (in Political Decelopments), particularly in domestic society, as well as in Bilateral Relations, that the whole thing has become even More Complicated", he denounced.

     >>> -  However, "I Hope and Believe that this 2-level Negotiations, (including also) on Energy Questions and Gas Deliveries, may make a Contribution into getting a Peaceful Solution to the Conflict, between all 3 sides", the "EuroLeft" Group's Spokesman on International Trade concluded optimistically.  
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    At any case, at least one thing seems certain : Most MEPs, even among those who currently Voted Against, or abstained on the EU - Ukraine Association Agreement, would Welcome, nevertheless, an eventual possibility for that to open a Way, in the foreseable Future, towards an EU - EurAsian  cooperation :

    + Thus, in addition to EuroLeft's German Spokesman Scholz, even someone so Different politically, as the French Rightist "National Front"s (1st Party in the Country at May 2014 EU Elections) vice-President, MEP and professor Bruno Gollnish, speaking to "EuroFora", replied that he would certainly vote in favour,  if this would facilitate, in any way, an eventual EU - Russia wider Deal.

    ++ Similar reaction, surprisingly, by Greek EuroLeft's Mediatic star, (recently cited even by BBC and New York Times !), MEP Manolis Glezos, the man who has become notoriously famous for daring to bring down the NAZI Flag from Acropolis in occupied Athens, during the 2nd WW military occupation :

    - Yes, we would like to have an Ukraine without NATO, nor Putin, but belonging rather to a Europe of the People, Glezos replied to "EuroFora"s above-mentioned Question, obviously overSimplifying things, as far as it concerns his view both about eventual NATO - EU supposed links, and Russian President Vladimir Putin's supposed  role, without taking into account the fact that all Polls indicate that he's by far the most Popular Politician of all inside Russia, (and sometimes even out of it, including even in some US circles)...

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   - "In any case, the Solution to the Conflict in Ukraine will be the" litmus test" for launching a dialogue on the Development of the Huge untapped Potential of the European Union’s Future relations with Russia : We must avoid creating a lasting rift on our continent", and ."we must also reflect on how we can jointly work on a Vision of Cooperation on the European continent, where all countries can take advantage of Economic Opportunities, from Lisbon to Vladivostok", concluded earlier this week, during the relevant EU Parliament's Debate, also the EU Commissoner in charge of EU Enlargement and Neighborhood, Stefan Fule.

  If such an EU - EurAsian Trade deal was ever agreed, on the "hard" but obviously Strategic and timely occasion of a parallel Peace Agreement on Ukraine, Kiev (or another symbolic Ukranian City, if not Minsk, in Belarus) might, in Future, become the "Center" of an Organisation for such a Big Marke, from Portugal to Vladivostok, - mutatits mutandis, as f.ex. also Strasbourg, where French and German Armies has been exhausted for years in sterile and Tragic Deadly Conflicts in the Past, provoking various Human Sufferings to the affected Ppulations, finaly became, later-on, the Historic Symbol of Franco-German Re-Concilitation, and Headquarters to the first Organisations which started to advance in a European and PanEuropean Integration : the CoE and EU Parliament's plenary sessions, etc....

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