“It is important to find consensus to consolidate the course to membership in the EU and NATO,” – Hanna Hopko (Kyiv)
“It is of utter significance to find consensus in the Parliament to ensure three hundred ayes for the constitutional amendments capable of consolidating Ukraine’s heading to the EU and NATO,” underlined the head of the Committee on Foreign Affairs Hanna Hopko when presenting on September 11 the results of a study on the attitude of Ukrainians to NATO.
The data of an all-Ukrainian poll conducted in August 2018 by the Democratic Initiatives Foundation show significant support for Ukraine's membership in the Alliance. In the event of a plebiscite on Ukraine's accession to NATO, 67% of the respondents willing to participate would vote in favor of the accession, while only 28% would do negatively.
According to Hanna Hopko, Ukraine’s European and Euro-Atlantic aspirations confirmed through the Constitution will prevent the attempt to revise this course depending on the political situation, election results or political agreements.
At the same time, it is important to approve a number of bills that will really bring Ukraine closer to NATO standards - security, intelligence, parliamentary control over the security and defenсe sector, state secrets, transparency in the defence and industrial complex, the foreign affairs committee head is convinced.
"It would be desirable that the candidates already declaring membership in the EU and NATO among their priorities confirm their intentions to vote for these important bills," said then Hanna Hopko.
"The open doors policy does work, and Ukraine,
despite the Russian aggression, stands a chance of Euro-Atlantic integration.
Ukraine is already spending more than 5% of its GDP on the sector of security
and defence, Ukraine has one of the most powerful armies with a unique
practical experience, and we can thus be seen as a partner who is well capable
of being a contributor", summed up Hanna Hopko.