Euromaidan anniversary: PACE President calls for urgent implementation of reform agenda | WPN World People News

On the first anniversary of the start of the Euromaidan protests, Anne Brasseur, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), congratulated the Ukrainian people on the progress made towards strengthening the democratic process and rule of law in the country.

“Thanks to the efforts of Ukrainian citizens, the country has made major steps forward in terms of the consolidation of democracy, including through the successful conduct of democratic elections for the President and Parliament. I salute them in what they have achieved,” said Ms Brasseur.

At the same time, Ms Brasseur stressed the need for urgent and far-reaching reforms in order to address the systemic shortcomings in the country’s political and judicial systems that were at the origin of the Euromaidan protests. “I urge the newly-elected parliament and newly-formed government to promptly start implementing the many reforms that are needed for the development of the country.”

“In this respect I wish to highlight the need for Constitutional reform without any further delay, as this will be the foundation on which the success of all other reforms will depend. The Assembly will continue to assist the authorities and Verkhovna Rada in their important work,” said President Brasseur. Full implementation of the ceasefire by all will be an essential element for the consolidation of democracy in Ukraine, she concluded.

Source: Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe