Meeting of the EU High Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Stefan Fulle with the leaders of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, committee chairmen, deputy faction leaders and members of the Verkhovna Rada committees on Foreign Affairs, on European Integration, and on National Security and Defence was held in the Parliament of Ukraine on Thursday.
Key issues of cooperation between Ukraine and the EU, particularly regarding further development of parliamentary dimension of cooperation were discussed during the meeting.
The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Volodymyr Rybak stressed that the issue of European integration is not only a top priority one for Ukrainian state policy, but also a strong consolidating factor of Ukrainian society. He noted that the stand of the President of Ukraine, Government and the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, in regard to approaches for cooperation with the European Union, coincides. According to him, conclusion of Association Agreement shall testify to the fact that the idea of Euro-integration is the link that unites almost all political forces of the Ukrainian Parliament and Ukrainian society in general.
In his turn, the European Commissioner Stefan Fulle called on all Ukrainian political forces to promote political association and economic integration with the European Union, stressing that all deputies of the Verkhovna Rada are personally responsible for implementation of the European agenda of Ukraine. “We would like the process of political association and economic integration with the European Union be general, and base on the contributions of all factions,” he said.
Stefan Fulle stressed also that this complicated way should base on compromise, which is “the way to achieve the future of the country and to get its luck”. He emphasized once again that the EU rules are based on joint human values and principles, such as freedom, democracy, and observance of human rights and the rule of law.
The European Commissioner stressed that Ukraine can “attain European power tools and grow as a competitive and democratic European state only through Association Agreement”. Stefan Fulle hopes also that Ukraine will be able to fulfill all conditions to sign the Agreement. “Only real progress is of importance to us,” he said, reminding that very little time is left to make necessary moves.
The High Commissioner welcomed moves aiming at realizing the first stage of the Visa Liberalization Action Plan and expressed hope that legislative acts required for its completion, will be adopted in the nearest time.
Chairman of the Committee on European Integration H.Nemyria, Chairman of the Committee on International Affairs V.Kaliuzhnyi, Chairman of the Committee on National Security and Defence V.Lytvyn, faction leaders: O.Yefremov, P.Symonenko, V.Klychko, A.Yatseniuk and other people’s deputies representing different political forces in the Parliament took the floor in the course of the meeting.
Overall, representatives of factions and parliamentary committees have similar approaches to settling agenda items of the EU-Ukraine Association.
O.Yefremov expressed confidence that Ukraine will “fulfill all necessary conditions and the way towards the European Union will be opened”.
V.Klychko said that Ukrainian people want to live according to European standards, one of which is the independent Parliament when each people’s deputy votes for himself. “All factions should support this by personal voting in the nearest future,” he said.
P.Symonenko expressed himself in favor of referendum regarding Ukraine’s accession to the European Union before the Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius in November.
A.Yatseniuk stressed that Ukraine will be a member of the European Union. “This is our course and will follow it,” he said, stressing that more than 400 people’s deputies should support the required legislative acts.
The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada expressed gratitude to the guests for meaningful and interesting meeting in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.