Within an field meeting in the European Parliament which was held in Brussels, the Committee on Economic Development held a number of working visits. As the Chairman of the Committee Dmytro Natalukha informs «We managed to hold several meetings with representatives of various political groups in the European Parliament to mobilise support among their members, even those who had never heard of autonomous trade measures (ATM).»
In particular members of the Committee met with Mr. João Cotrim de Figueiredo, Vice-President of the political group Renew Europe. During the discussion, Mr. de Figueiredo engaged in an in-depth examination of Ukraine’s economic issues and was briefed on the actual figures concerning our trade with the European Union. The members of the Committee provided him with comprehensive information on the impact of the autonomous trade measures on both the Ukrainian and European economies, as well as the challenges faced by Ukrainian producers on the EU market.
A separate analysis was presented regarding trade with Poland, serving as an example of a situation where economic cooperation is subjected to political pressure. The discussion also addressed concerns related to certain Member States which, regrettably, undermine the principles of the Single Market, manipulate information and public sentiment, and instrumentalize Ukraine’s European integration process for their own domestic political purposes.
Mr. de Figueiredo expressed his strong support and readiness to actively advocate for Ukraine’s position within his political group. In particular, he affirmed his willingness to support the initiation of consultations with the European Commission on a new trade agreement that could serve as a stable and predictable alternative to the current autonomous trade measures regime.
«During the visit, the members of the Committee held a series of meetings and conducted several in-depth interviews with leading European media outlets. We explained the core of the issue in the clearest possible terms, outlining the potential consequences for both sides,» stated Dmytro Natalukha.
«In the end, I believe this exceptionally productive and intensive visit — a fully-fledged political operation — has proven to be justified,» he concluded.