MEP von Cramon: Ukraine should include opposition in decision-making process at executive level

Viola von Cramon (Germany, Green Group/European Free Alliance) is Deputy Chair of the European Parliament Delegation to the EU-Ukraine Parliamentary Association Committee (PAC), an outspoken defender of Ukraine in the EU. In the light of the upcoming elections in the European Parliament, which will be held from June 6 to 9 in EU member countries, the European Parliament held in Strasbourg its last plenary meeting, during which Interfax-Ukraine spoke with the politician.

Text by Iryna Somer, Brussels

How would you evaluate the work of the Ukrainian delegation to the PAC?

First of all, I think my colleagues have done a very good job overall. I mean in those very difficult circumstances - the war, the lack of personnel, security, financial, and then, of course, social pressure regarding the law on mobilization and everything else... in these conditions they were working on the European agenda, trying to stay in line with a time schedule and fulfill all conditions from the EU, receiving additional requirements from the European Parliament and other institutions. It's not that simple. If you look at it from a technical it was a super job, but that’s not all.

We also talk about democracy, we also talk about how democratic institutions function, and whether the plan for Ukraine, for example, was put together only for reasons of efficiency or also for inclusiveness? And here we are missing a lot. The Ukraine plan has not been discussed sufficiently with the relevant committees, civil society, or some other actors. Now we distribute money, which mainly goes to support the budget, so there is not many conditionality. But when it comes to recovery, when it comes to the next stage, especially when you look at judicial reform and