On the 22-23 January 2014, Mrs. Daiva Matonienė (ECR Group Vice-President, Member of Šiauliai City Council and Lithuanian Vice-Minister for Environment) participated in a Committee of the Regions fact-finding mission in Kiev, Ukraine. The delegation, led by CoR President Ramón Luis Valcárcel, met stakeholders and observed the situation on the ground.

 Mrs. Matoniene noted that "the situation on the ground highlighted the urgent need for a renewed and constructive dialogue with Ukraine. I would strongly urge the government and the protestors to refrain from using force and to address issues in a peaceful and democratic manner."

 The mission was organised in light of the developments in EU- Ukraine relations. Following the 21 November 2013 decision of the Ukrainian not to sign a trade pact and political association agreement with the EU, the ECR Group President Cllr. Gordon Keymer CBE had suggested a serious assessment of the CoR Conference of the Regional and Local Authorities for the Eastern Partnership activities. Cllr. Keymer noted that "as the EU we need to reconsider the way our relationship with our Eastern partners is structured. We need to engage in a renewed dialogue at all levels of governance."

 The mission coincided with an eruption of violent protests against Ukraine's 16 January anti-protest legislation. Mrs. Matoniene, expressed serious concerns over the new law. She noted that "the protests seem to have evolved from support for EU into concerns over fundamental rights. It is more urgent than ever that Ukraine does not lose its EU anchor."

 The delegation met with the representatives of Ukrainian associations of regions and towns, representatives of the "EuroMaidan" and other actors of civil society engaged in recent anti-government protests, the daughter of still imprisoned Yulia Tymoshenko, and the EU delegation.