"The politically motivated verdict against Yulia Timoshenko will have consequences for the planned Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Union and Ukraine", said the EPP Group's Coordinator in the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, Elmar Brok MEP, the Head of the Polish Delegation of the EPP Group, Jacek Saryusz-Wolski MEP, and the Vice-Chairman of the European Parliament's International Trade Committee, Paweł Zalewski MEP, said.

"This was a political trial, which has serious consequences for the negotiations and Ukraine's future relationship with the European Union. The Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the EU and Ukraine will not be able to go ahead as planned. The violation of democracy and the rule of law is unacceptable. If, however, the Ukrainian government continues its path of sabotaging the political opposition and obstructing the media, it is putting the economic and European perspective of the country at risk."

For further information:

Elmar BROKMEP, Tel: +32-2-2847323

Jacek SARYUSZ-WOLSKI MEP, Tel: +32-2-2847371

Paweł ZALEWSKI MEP, Tel: +32-2-2847481

Lasse Böhm, EPP Group Press and Communications Service, Tel: +32-484-656897

Joanna Bekker, EPP Group Press and Communications Service, Tel: +32-476-943388

Notes to Editors:

The EPP Group is by far the largest political group in the European Parliament with 264 Members.