Press Release

01/10/2007

Elections in Ukraine: Martens and Daul congratulate Yushchenko and Tymoshenko. Support orange government coalition

The President of the European People's Party (EPP), Wilfred Martens, and the Chairman of the EPP-ED Group, Joseph Daul MEP, have congratulated Viktor Yushchenko (NSNU) and Yulia Tymoshenko (BYuT) for the excellent results obtained in the elections held on Sunday in Ukraine.

"These results are extremely relevant for the country. With their votes, the majority of the Ukrainian citizens backed an 'orange coalition' which will be the best way to end to political crisis in the Ukraine, Martens and Daul stated.

"The EPP has always defended democracy across Europe and, needless to say, we will continue our efforts to help Ukraine to start a new era of stability, prosperity and a European future", they added.

President Martens has already talked via telephone with Yulia Tymoshenko to express his support for the formation of an orange government and will do the same with President Victor Yushchenko in the coming hours.

NSNU is an observer member party of the EPP. The Motherland party of Yulia Tymoshenko recently applied for membership of the EPP, which will be decided upon in the coming months.

For further information:
Joseph Daul MEP, Tel: +33-3-88175525
Antoine Ripoll, Chairman's Spokesman, Tel: +32-475-856290
Javier Jiménez, EPP Press Officer, Tel: +32-2-2854156/+32-475-480446

Notes to Editors:
The EPP-ED Group is the largest political group in the European Parliament with 278 Members from all 27 Member States.