Brussels, November 2, 2023
Photo: voiceofeurope.com
“Ukraine violates the rule of law and human rights. Ukraine should never become member of the EU,” believes Marcel de Graaff, a member of the European Parliament from the Netherlands.
Together with Joachim Kuhs, de Graaff appealed to the European Commission, drawing attention to 
Ukrainian Parliament votes for bill to ban UOC in first reading, second reading still to comeMany local administrations have declared bans on the Church, though at the same time, the Church’s activities have continued in those localities.
“>Ukraine’s intention to ban the Orthodox Church.
“In their appeal, they noted that the Ukrainian government has been exerting increasing pressure on the Orthodox Church, which has historically played a central role in the spiritual life of Ukrainian society,” reports Voice of Europe.
The deputies wrote of how the Ukrainian parliament is seriously considering a complete ban on the Church and “coercing preachers and clergy to unite with other denominations.”
Thus, de Graaff and Kuhs posed several important questions to the European Commission, including whether the Commission will call on the Ukrainian government to lift the ban, and whether it constitutes an obstacle to negotiations on Ukraine’s EU membership.
“Members of the European Parliament hope that the European Commission will carefully consider this situation and take necessary measures to protect freedom of religion and the rights of denominations in Ukraine,” Voice of Europe concludes.
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