Ivanna Klympush-Tsyntsadze, Chair of the Committee on Ukraine's Integration into the EU, took part in the conference «Geopolitical Turning Point? Ukraine and the Future of the European Union,» which was held in Berlin. The event was organised by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation and Zentrum Liberale Moderne. Ivanna Klympush-Tsнntsadze delivered a keynote speech to conference participants and took part in a session dedicated to Ukraine's accession to the EU. During this session, Ukraine's progress towards the European Union, the obstacles that need to be removed and the challenges that need to be overcome were discussed.
The Chair of the Committee noted that talking about the future in Europe, when Ukraine is paying a bloody price for freedom every day and, at the same time, is reeling from new corruption scandals, is a difficult challenge. But it is also a reminder that even during wartime, we cannot allow ourselves to betray the principles for which Ukraine is fighting. «I am grateful to civil society, grateful to our partners for not remaining silent when the authorities tried to destroy the anti-corruption bodies, because today we can see the results of their work,» said Ivanna Klympush-Tsyntsadze.
She is convinced that, in addition to judicial and procedural decisions, tough political decisions are also needed, as well as a complete reboot of the government. «And the actual renewal of the powers of parliament in terms of the institution's subjectivity, clear control and oversight of the government. Because parliament has always played an important and serious role in the history of Ukraine,» emphasised the Chair of the Committee on Ukraine's Integration into the EU.
Ivanna Klympush-Tsyntsadze noted that despite the largely positive EU Enlargement Report recently published by the European Commission, Ukraine must honestly admit that the pace of reforms has slowed down. «We are seriously lagging behind Moldova, and some of the EU's recommendations, particularly on such important areas as the rule of law, the judicial system and anti-corruption, remain unfulfilled. Summer attempts to undermine the independence of anti-corruption bodies did not go unnoticed by our partners, which is also reflected in the Report. It is good that Ukrainian society has clearly drawn red lines,» the Committee Chair emphasised.
She also insisted that political determination is needed from the European Union.
The EU enlargement process cannot be held hostage by bureaucracy or national vetoes, which some leaders – such as Orbán – use to promote kremlin narratives. Therefore, the principle of decision-making in the EU, at least with regard to the opening of clusters, needs to be reviewed immediately. «Such indecision and unwillingness to make geopolitical decisions demotivates Ukrainians, who are fighting with their lives not only for their right to exist, but also for a better future in the family of European nations, who believe that Europe is also an area of freedom and peace, and a space in which it is possible to ensure institutional peace,» said Ivanna Klympush-Tsyntsadze.
She stressed that the European choice for Ukraine is a civilisational choice. «74% of our citizens are firmly convinced that European integration is the only way forward for our future. We believe in a Europe of values - freedom, justice, the rule of law. This belief may be naive, but it is what helped us to stand firm on the Maidan and is helping us to move forward now,» said Ivanna Klympush-Tsyntsadze.
The Chair of the Committee recalled that Ukrainians have proven time and again that they are capable of achieving the impossible. And today, despite all the difficulties and slowdowns, Ukraine continues to do its homework on the path to the EU. «I remembered the posters of revolutionary Paris in 1968 - «Be idealists, demand the impossible». For Ukraine, this call now sounds different: «Let's be pragmatic and do the impossible”, and then we will surely become part of the European Union,» she concluded.