"Implementation of the EU Association Agreement, reforming the national security and defense sector and introduction of systemic economic reforms remain among the primary tasks of the Parliament for this session," -- Iryna Herashchenko
It was stressed by the First Deputy Chairperson of the Ukrainian Parliament in a meeting with representatives of the delegation of the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET).
On April 6, Iryna Herashchenko, the First Deputy Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Hanna Hopko, the head of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Mariia Ionova, deputy head of the Committee on European Integration and some other parliamentarians met with delegates of the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee.
Iryna Herashchenko informed the European delegates about the security and humanitarian situation in the Donbas. She drew their attention to numerous violations of the "Easter truce" by the SRDLO’s militants from March 30, 2018. As a TCG’s representative I. Herashchenko also informed about the efforts of the Ukrainian side to release illegally detained Ukrainians in the temporarily occupied territory and in the Russian Federation.
When informing those present about the current work of the Parliament, Iryna Herashchenko notified that the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine had adopted a number of obligations under the EU Association Agreement, and in the field of ecology in particular. The politician also said that the Parliament is about to adopt a series of bills on national security and defense, decentralization, deregulation and anti-corruption in the near future.
During the meeting, the participants exchanged their views on the need to abolish e-declarations for representatives of the non-governmental sector.
They also discussed with the European parliamentarians the state of play in implementation of the EU Association Agreement and the main short term measures to be implemented.
Hanna Hopko, the head of the Foreign Affairs Committee, stressed the inadmissibility of the Nord Stream 2. In this regard, she urged the European delegates to hold a series of hearings in Brussels on political, security and economic threats from the project "North Stream 2" for Europe.
Abstract of the delegation’s communique issued upon the visit
The delegation of the EP’s Foreign Affairs Committee, led by MEP Laima Andrikiene, visited Ukraine on April 6, to take stock of the implementations of European reforms.
MEPs met with the authorities and civil society of the country to assess the relations with the EU, the implementation of the Association Agreements, to encourage reforms and the fight against corruption. The results will feed into the European Parliament’s resolutions on the implementation of the EU Association Agreement in Ukraine to be drawn up later this year.
“Our message is very clear - we want to support Ukraine in the implementation of the Association Agreement and to see quick progress in terms of reforms, especially as regards the rule of law and democratisation,” said delegation chair Laima Andrikiene (EPP, LT) after the delegation’s visit to Ukraine.
“We support Ukraine for the reforms that have been passed so far, with great efforts and mobilization. We welcome in particular the steps forward in areas such as public procurement, macro-economic stabilization, healthcare, pension reform, the de-centralization process and privatization. Reforms have taken place despite the Russian military aggression that is ongoing on its soil. This is not a frozen conflict and this should not be a forgotten conflict”.
“An effective fight against corruption is key to the reform process. In this respect, the establishment of the High Anti-corruption Court in line with Venice Commission recommendations is a top priority. Fighting corruption is also the way to open doors to foreign investors who need a reliable business environment to bring new economic opportunities to Ukraine, to increase trade and boost jobs. This is an opportunity for Ukraine to seize”, she added.