The European Parliament said ratifying an association agreement with Ukraine might give Europe more leverage over the country. Members of the European Parliament recommended that an EU-Ukraine association agreement should be signed \"without delay.\" \"While urging Ukraine to review the conviction of former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, MEPs argue that the agreement could serve as a lever to bring about the changes needed in the country,\" Parliament said in a Thursday statement. Tymoshenko was unable to attend a Thursday session of an appeals court in Kiev because of unspecified ailments. She\'s serving a seven-year prison sentence on charges she abused her authority when she helped broker a gas deal with Russian gas company Gazprom in 2009 while serving as prime minister. Her Western advocates say the charges against her are a political ploy carried out by the pro-Kremlin government in Kiev. The European Parliament added that a postponed meeting with President Viktor Yanukovych should go ahead but warned \"it should be possible to suspend the (association) agreement temporarily should basic fundamental principles be breached.\"