Bundestag MPs dissatisfied with reforms in Ukraine

The CDU/CSU faction believes that financial assistance to Ukraine should be provided not in advance, but in portions regarding the progress of the approved reforms and their practical implementation.

As Deutsche Welle reports, views of the MPs on this issue were presented in the written document “For active European policy for Ukraine.”

The authors of the document refer to the fact that “the political goal of the Moscow’s actions is to destabilize Ukraine and prevent its rapprochement with the EU.” However, if Ukraine does not follow the European way of development and stay in some intermediate stage between the EU and Russia, this “will have a destabilizing effect on the entire region, including the two other countries that signed the EU Association Agreement – Georgia and Moldova,” the CDU/CSU member Franz Josef Jung said. He believes that in this case, there will be the risk of another powerful wave of refugees to the EU – from Ukraine this time.

According to rapporteur of the CDU/CSU on Ukraine Karl-Georg Wellmann, President of the European Council Donald Tusk is the ideal candidate to coordinate European efforts in the Ukrainian direction.

“He should pay regular visits to Kyiv,” he said, “and stir the local politicians to reforms with the authority of his office.”

This should be done as, according to Wellmann, the Ukrainian leadership lacks strength and political will to conduct reforms.

“Our deepest concern is the problem of corruption,” Wellmann noted. “We do not see the will of the government to fight corruption.”

As the Bundestag member said, three weeks ago he talked with the leaders of the anti-corruption agency, set up at the initiative of the government, and found out that work had not yet begun as there was no budget and no staff.

Wellmann doubts the ability of the Ukrainian government to limit the influence of the tycoons on political processes in the country. The German parliamentarian recalled that President Petro Poroshenko was one of the richest businessmen in the country, “And if we take this criterion to define what a ‘tycoon’ is, he is playing these games as well.”

Wellmann told reporters about his accidental meeting with a representative of the German energy E.On group while he was flying from Kyiv to Berlin. According to the E.On representative, the entire Ukrainian energy market is controlled by the president.

“That is, Poroshenko is very successful from a commercial point of view, I can only congratulate him,” Wellmann said ironically.

According to estimates of the European financial experts, Ukraine needs over EUR 100 billion in assistance to modernize the infrastructure, administrative and judicial systems, education and industry. The considerable amount of funds has been already transferred to Kyiv.

However, the CDU/CSU faction believes that subsequent tranches should be put in direct dependence on the implementation of reforms.

“Ukraine has enough written concepts of reforms, proposals and already adopted laws,” Wellmann said. “Ukraine lacks their implementation.”

He suggests applying the “Greek model” to Ukraine, under which the funds from the financial aid package to Athens are transferred in small portions and only after the reforms, proposed by the creditors, and austerity measures are implemented.

“For example, it was instructed to privatize a port or conduct a particular reform.” Wellmann explains. “So, first, privatization or reform is implemented, and then the money is given. If there is a delay, there will be no next billion.”