Barroso snubs Euro 2012 games in Ukraine
Brussels/Kyiv: The European Commission has backed its president José Manuel Barroso’s decision to avoid Euro 2012 football matches in Ukraine, a de facto boycott intended to turn up the pressure over Kyiv’s treatment of Yulia Tymoshenko, the jailed former Ukrainian premier.
Although the 27-member commission, the EU’s executive branch, did not take a formal vote to boycott Ukrainian games, EU officials said Mr Barroso detailed his decision at the body’s weekly meeting on Wednesday and other members agreed to honour it.
“They backed the decision,” said one commission official. “There wasn’t a roll call.”
The move is the latest in a series of steps taken by European leaders to show their concern about reports of human rights abuses by the regime of President Viktor Yanukovich – particularly the treatment of Ms Tymoshenko, who is on a hunger strike to protest against what she said were beatings by prison guards while she was being transferred to a prison hospital. The Ukrainian prosecutor’s office denies the allegations.
In addition to the move to boycott the Ukrainian matches, the presidents of several EU countries, including Germany and Italy, have said they will not attend an informal summit hosted by Mr Yanukovich next week.
EU officials were careful to note that they were not boycotting the entire football tournament, which begins next month. The Euro 2012 tournament, held every four years and Europe’s most important international football competition, is being co-hosted by Poland, an EU member.
“We have to bear in mind that the Euro 2012 will be co-hosted by Poland,” said another EU official. “But at this particular moment, it would not be appropriate to attend matches in Ukraine while these concerns remain.”
Oleksandr Dykusarov, an official with Ukraine’s foreign ministry, said boycotting matches would be counterproductive, arguing it would “damage the interests of millions of average Ukrainians” who have been eagerly anticipating the event.
In a written statement, Mr Dykusarov added it would be “destructive to politicise sporting events which have for ages played an important role in establishing international understanding and unity”.
Ukraine hoped that co-hosting the games would boost its image. Nearly $8bn has been invested in the lead-up to the games to revamp ageing infrastructure, build new airports, stadiums and hotels. A boycott could be a painful blow to the nation’s image and humiliating politically for Mr Yanukovich, whose popularity has plunged.
Moves to boycott the Ukrainian portion of Euro 2012 have become a source of tension within the EU, with Polish officials in particular urging caution. Donald Tusk, the Polish prime minister, said on Thursday that while he has urged Kyiv to improve its human rights record and treat Ms Tymoshenko humanely, he would not boycott Ukrainian games.
One senior EU diplomat expressed scepticism that the bloc would be able to agree a boycott because of the lack of unanimity. While member states in western Europe have increasingly condemned Ukraine, many in the east remained more sympathetic.
Still, in a sign of mounting frustration, EU foreign ministers are expected to hold an informal discussion on Ukraine at their next meeting, which will give Lady Ashton, the bloc’s foreign policy chief, the chance to assess their positions.
Specifically, she will be watching to see whether there is more momentum to move away from the incentive-laden approach that the EU has taken toward Ukraine and instead adopt a tougher posture.
Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2012
Posted on http://www.ft.com on May 3, 2012 8:35 pm