First meeting of the EU-Ukraine Parliamentary Association Committee in the EP in Brussels. Opening by Martin SCHULZ, EP President&nbsp;with Volodymyr GROYSMAN, Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.

EU - Ukraine (T)

Brussels

statement

meeting

SCHULZ, Martin (S&D, DE)

keynote speech

GROYSMAN, Volodymyr (UA)

First meeting of the EU-Ukraine Parliamentary Association Committee: opening by Martin SCHULZ, EP President with Volodymyr GROYSMAN, Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine

Atmosphere shots ahead the meeting, handshake, welcoming (11 shots)

SOUNDBITE (English), Martin SCHULZ, EP President, "Together with Volodymyr GROYSMAN, Chairperson of the Ukrainian Parliament, this 1st EU-Ukraine parliamentary Association Committee meeting brings together the colleges from the EP and the newly elected Verkhovna Rada. Our meeting today is an evidence that our cooperation is developing on a strong round".

SOUNDBITE (English), Martin SCHULZ, "The EP is ready to give all of its efforts to help this important process. We have just announced - speaker Groysman and myself -  the capacity building programme that the EP will implement together with the Ukrainian Parliament".

SOUNDBITE (English), Martin SCHULZ, " I think that both sides, the EP and Ukrainian Parliament should deepen the technical and infrastructural cooperation in the next months. Speaker Groysman made some concrete proposals for traineeship, for capacity building in the committees, in the parliamentarian groups, in the law making process, and also in the infrastructural development of the Parliament. I think we, as EP, we should mobilise the optimum of what we can provide to the Ukrainian Parliament, from our knowledge, from our capacity. They are prepared to send, not only members, but also civil servants and advisers".

SOUNDBITE (English), Martin SCHULZ, "It is for us completely unacceptable and we condemn strongly, that a permanent member of the UN Security Council , which is obliged to defend international law, breaks international rules permanently . The unilateral annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation is un unacceptable break of international rules . At the beginning of our cooperation here, you, the members of the Ukrainian Parliament, should know that this is the position of the European Parliament". Applause.

SOUNDBITE (null), Volodymyr (Ukrainian) GROYSMAN, Chairperson of the Ukrainian Parliament, "We are now making an important step towards concrete work . This work has to be conducted on various levels, including the level of the EP. The role of this committee is particularly important, and I do understand that the work is conducted in a very difficult situation of the Russian aggression, and I understand that. The European integration challenges, the implementation reform, indeed are our homework, the agreement of association has been ratified - as you know - by our parliaments on the same time, by the European Parliament, and the Ukrainian Parliament. it was a very moving, symbolic gesture.