[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 402 Introduced in House (IH)]

113th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 402

  Supporting the European aspirations of the peoples of the European 
     Union's Eastern Partnership countries, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           November 12, 2013

 Mr. Engel (for himself, Mr. Royce, Mr. Keating, and Mr. Poe of Texas) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
                           on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Supporting the European aspirations of the peoples of the European 
     Union's Eastern Partnership countries, and for other purposes.

Whereas a democratic, prosperous, and stable Eastern Europe and Caucasus region 
        is in the national interest of the United States;
Whereas the stability and economic vitality of this region also is important to 
        our allies in NATO and the European Union (EU);
Whereas Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Belarus have to 
        varying extents sought to strengthen their economic and political ties 
        with the EU through participation in the EU's Eastern Partnership 
        program;
Whereas closer relations with the EU through the Eastern Partnership program 
        will promote democratic values, good governance, and economic 
        opportunity in the region;
Whereas Ukraine may sign an EU Association Agreement, provided that it meets 
        clear and essential EU conditions, and Moldova and Georgia may initial 
        EU Association Agreements at the Eastern Partnership summit to be held 
        in Vilnius, Lithuania, on November 28 and 29, 2013;
Whereas these EU Association Agreements contain free trade and other provisions 
        that will create the conditions for greater economic growth and will 
        strengthen democratic institutions and norms, bolster the rule of law, 
        and reduce corruption in signatory states;
Whereas the EU's Eastern Partnership program and Association Agreements are 
        voluntary associations;
Whereas all sovereign states have the right to enter into voluntary partnerships 
        of their choosing, in keeping with their interests and values;
Whereas majorities of the populations of Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, and other 
        states in the region desire closer relations with the EU;
Whereas the EU Association Agreements do not pose a threat to any nation, and 
        all states in the region, including Russia, will benefit from the 
        economic growth and increased rule of law and stability resulting from 
        closer relations with the EU;
Whereas Russia has sought to dissuade Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, and Armenia 
        from initialing or signing Association Agreements with the EU;
Whereas Russia has impeded some Ukrainian imports and banned the import of 
        Moldovan wine;
Whereas Russia has pressured Georgia, notably by erecting physical barriers 
        along the Administrative Boundary Lines of the occupied Georgian regions 
        of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, where Russian troops continue to be 
        stationed despite a commitment in the 2008 ceasefire agreement to 
        withdraw to pre-conflict positions;
Whereas these actions contravene Russia's commitments under the Helsinki 
        principles of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe 
        (OSCE) and the Charter of Paris, and also call into question Russia's 
        World Trade Organization (WTO) commitments;
Whereas the European Parliament on September 12, 2013, passed a resolution 
        expressing support for the Eastern Partnership countries;
Whereas the United States has long supported the European aspirations of the 
        peoples of Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia, as well as the other Eastern 
        Partnership countries; and
Whereas the United States believes that deepening ties with the EU will benefit 
        these states, the wider region, and Russia, and will represent a step 
        forward toward the realization of the vision of a democratic Europe, 
        whole, free, and at peace: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the European aspirations of the peoples of the 
        Eastern Partnership countries;
            (2) recognizes the significant benefits to these and other 
        countries in the Eastern Europe and Caucasus region of closer 
        economic and political ties with the EU, which will spur 
        economic growth, strengthen democratic institutions and norms, 
        and bolster the rule of law in the region;
            (3) supports the right of all sovereign states to enter 
        into voluntary partnerships of their choosing, in keeping with 
        their interests and values, and as enshrined in the OSCE's 
        Helsinki principles;
            (4) rejects the concept of spheres of influence which would 
        divide the European continent;
            (5) calls on the Government of Russia to respect the rights 
        of states to make their own sovereign choices with regard to 
        international partnerships, including to sign Association 
        Agreements with the EU;
            (6) applauds the significant progress Ukraine, Moldova, and 
        Georgia have made in adopting democratic norms and standards, 
        calls on these states to continue to implement necessary 
        reforms, and urges Ukraine to address the remaining essential 
        requirements for signing its Association Agreement with the EU: 
        electoral and rule of law reforms and those related to 
        selective justice, including the release of ex-Prime Minister 
        Yulia Tymoshenko;
            (7) urges the Department of State to continue to work 
        closely with our European partners and allies to support the 
        right of Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia to enter into voluntary 
        partnerships of their choosing, provided that any conditions 
        are met; and
            (8) calls on the Department of State to continue to support 
        reforms in all Eastern Partnership countries which will both 
        help them meet the conditions necessary for closer relations 
        with the EU and which also make these states more democratic, 
        prosperous, and secure.
                                 <all>