Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

This is a matter of concern to people in the European Union. Former Prime Minister Tymoshenko attended quite a number of meetings of the European People's Party which I also attended and she made her case in respect of the difficulties being encountered in her country at the time. For his part, President Yanokovych said he had decriminalised a range of issues on the basis that the former Prime Minister might not face a jail sentence. He gave briefings to other leaders on what the problem was from his perspective. The European Union has made a strong case that if there is an appeal against the seven year jail sentence handed down to the former Prime Minister, it should clearly be seen to be conducted in an entirely independent and fair manner. I support that view very strongly.

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