[An Nahar] EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele | I must apologize to someone -- I thought that was a typo in the headline. |
"The European Union
...the successor to the Holy Roman Empire, only without the Hapsburgs and the nifty uniforms and the dancing...
stands ready to assist all sides," Fuele told the European Parliament, adding that he and EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton "are working as a team on Ukraine".
"She is there today trying to stop the crisis from escalating and I will be returning there next week again."
Fuele warned that "what is at stake now is not only the respect of the most basic fundamental rights, but also the future of Ukraine."
He called for quick discussion on the constitution under a new government and said the EU could assist revisions with expertise and advice.
It was crucial to ensure free and fair elections in 2015, he said.
"In case of a positive scenario", the EU would be ready to extend assistance, based on a genuine commitment to political and economic reforms, in cooperation with the IMF and other global actors, he said.