KIEV, July 1 – Opposition groups suggested on Monday that President Viktor Yanukovych show up in Parliament on Friday to address lawmakers over progress the country has made on the path of European integration.

The development comes amid concerns the government lags behind on reforms needed to clear the way for signing of political association and free trade agreements between Ukraine and the European Union in November.

The concerns worsened as lawmakers are due to hold their last session on Friday before a summer recess that will end in early September, making hard for the government to meet the deadline.

“It would be nice if the president could give his speech in Parliament on the last session day," Arseniy Yatseniuk, the leader of the largest opposition group Batkivshchyna said Monday.

Yanukovych last month cancelled his planned address to Parliament amid fears that the opposition groups would disrupt the address by demanding release of political prisoners.

Oleksandr Yefremov, the leader of the Regions Party group in Parliament, said the idea of inviting Yanukovych to Parliament this week makes no sense, but final decision may be announced within days.

Parliamentary Speaker Volodymyr Rybak, a long time ally of Yanukovych, said he will discuss the idea with the president later on Monday before announcing the decision Tuesday.

"I don’t know the president’s schedule, but I am going to meet him today,” Rybak said. “I think that tomorrow I can answer this question.”

The developments come after both, the opposition groups and the ruling Regions Party spoke in favor of fast approval of legislation that is required for the European integration.

Yulia Tymoshenko, the jailed former prime minister and the founder of Batkivshchyna, recently called on the opposition groups and the Regions Party to hold a conference to make sure Ukraine moves towards the European integration. The Regions Party backed the plan.

Yatseniuk was the only opposition leader who met Yanukovych last month at a crisis meeting, while two others, including Vitaliy Klichko and Oleh Tiahnybok, refused to join the meeting. Both, Klichko and Tiahnybok, demanded that Yanukovych must come to Parliament to make the address.

Yatseniuk called at the meeting for the release of Tymoshenko, which he said would open the way for signing of the agreements between Ukraine and the EU. (tl/ez)