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Ukraine has to choose democracy and rule of law

Verhovna Rada”We have raised concerns about the rule of law, the fairness and transparency in the recent regional elections as well as the freedom of press in the Ukraine”, said Gunnar Hökmark MEP, Vice-Chairman of the EPP Group, who led a delegation of EPP Group MEPs to the Ukraine. The delegation met opposition leaders, Yulia Timoshenko and others, as well as government representatives such as Deputy Prime Minister, Sergiej Tihipko, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Konstantyn Gryschenko, and the Speaker of the Parliament, Volodymyr Lytvyn. Läs mer »Ukraine has to choose democracy and rule of law

Kosovo on the right track: Exchange of views with the Deputy Prime Minister of Kosovo

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Hökmark and Mr Manaj ”We greatly appreciate that Rame Manaj attended our Working Group, it only proves how active the EPP Group is in the region of South East Europe. In this context let me mention that the EPP Group will organise a high-profile conference on South East Europe in November. Today’s visit and exchange of views with Mr Manaj was not only an update on the situation of Kosovo at the international level, but we also discussed in detail the actions of the Kosovo Government regarding minority rights and the protection of the culture, language and identity of ethnic minorities. We follow this development closely. It is certain that stability in Kosovo will lead to the stability of the Balkans in the larger context”, said Gunnar Hökmark MEP, Vice-President of the EPP Group in charge of the Working Group.

Läs mer »Kosovo on the right track: Exchange of views with the Deputy Prime Minister of Kosovo

Croatia: After opening three remaining chapters, Croatia is closer than ever to EU accession. Gunnar Hökmark MEP

EPP”After today’s decision by the EU to open the last three remaining Chapters of accession negotiations with Croatia, Croatia’s EU entry seems imminent,” said Gunnar Hökmark MEP (EPP, SE), Chairman of the EU-Croatia Joint Parliamentary Committee reacting to the outcome of the meeting of the Intergovernmental Accession Conference (IGC) with Croatia.Läs mer »Croatia: After opening three remaining chapters, Croatia is closer than ever to EU accession. Gunnar Hökmark MEP

Slovenian referendum: MEP Hökmark welcomes green light for border agreement with Croatia

The decision by the Slovenian people in this weekend’s referendum to back international arbitration of the border dispute with Croatia was welcomed on Monday by Gunnar Hökmark, chair of the EP Delegation to the EU-Croatia Joint Parliamentary Committee. 

“The agreement reached through EU-sponsored talks during the Swedish presidency, and the ratification of the agreement, is an example to the whole of South-Eastern Europe that neighbour-to-neighbour disagreements can be resolved if leaders have the political will to do so”, said Mr Hökmark. At a time when most Western Balkan countries are failing to address serious obstacles on the way to EU membership, Croatia is setting a good example, he added.Läs mer »Slovenian referendum: MEP Hökmark welcomes green light for border agreement with Croatia

Europe must not give up on its Eastern neighbourhood

Neighbourhood Policy

”The democratic development in the neighbourhood of the EU will not emerge by itself. It is about active choices of directions where western democracy is only one alternative. The actions of EU and the US are important for the progress of these countries. Long term stability, idea of open society, rule of law, market economy developed in the countries of Eastern Partnership will have impact on the member states of the EU,” underlined EPP Group Vice Chairman Gunnar Hökmark MEP, who chaired a seminar on the EU’s neighbourhood policy in the premises of the European Parliament in Brussels.

 Läs mer »Europe must not give up on its Eastern neighbourhood

Doors of Europe opening to Georgian people

 EPP”I very warmly welcome today’s recommendation by the European Commission to make a significant step in opening the doors of the European Union to the Georgian people. Facilitating travel into and around the EU is crucial for people to people contacts and conducive to good relations between the EU and Georgia”, said Gunnar Hökmark MEP, Vice-Chairman of the EPP Group in the European Parliament, commenting on today’s proposal of the European Commission to conclude visa facilitation and readmission agreements with Georgia. Läs mer »Doors of Europe opening to Georgian people

Croatia´s Accession Process – Article in The Parliament Magazine

ZagrebWhen in Zagreb you are reminded of a European culture and history that for decades was hidden behind the Iron Curtain and you are reminded of the very special regime in Yugoslavia that the communist leader Tito formed. It is the old Europe, and Churchill defined it so extremely well: ”From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic an iron curtain has descended across the Continent. Behind that line lie all the capitals of the ancient states of Central and Eastern Europe. ”Läs mer »Croatia´s Accession Process – Article in The Parliament Magazine

The Swedish Presidency – speech in plenary

Mr President, I hesitate to phrase it in this way because it does not sound very modest as a Swede, but I think it is fair to say that the European Union and Europe will not be the same after this Presidency. It is a different European Union – a stronger and a better Union – for a number of reasons, some of which I as a Swede am very proud to mention.Läs mer »The Swedish Presidency – speech in plenary