European Commissioner Fule names EU priorities in resolving crisis in Ukraine

KYIV. Feb 13 (Interfax) – The European Union considers holding a constitutional reform and forming a new government to be a priority task, European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy Stefan Fule said at a news conference in Kyiv.

First of all, it is necessary to implement important steps regarding the constitutional reform, forming new inclusive government and ensuring free and fair elections, Fule said.

Fule said he did not discuss in Kyiv the possibility of holding early elections. The EU is interested in creating every condition for holding fair and transparent elections in Ukraine in the future, he said.

It should be stated absolutely clear that the discussion does not concern holding early elections and the EU is saying and emphasizing all the time that the main work is aimed at ensuring necessary conditions for future elections – be it presidential, parliamentary or local elections, Fule said.

As to the issue of holding early elections, this should be decided by Ukrainians, the commissioner said.

Fule said he intended to meet with Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych on Thursday in the framework of his visit to Ukraine.

The commissioner said that he had already met with Yanukovych and that the two intended to continue their discussion on Thursday.

The issue of granting financial help to Ukraine will be discussed during the meeting among other things, Fule said.