A new history of Ukraine and the European Union has begun. We are not side by side now, we are together now. Not two neighbors, between which are borders and barriers, but one European family, which has common values and a common destiny. And it's not just words, it's not declarative, it's not some expectations or some political calculation there, it's a legally fixed status.
Ukraine has acquired the status of a candidate for accession to the European Union. The 115 days between applying for an entry and response of the European Union is a record time. We were united in the same way as for the sake of our defense, we acted in unity as well as to protect our state, our land. We did not stop for a moment until the European Council made a positive decision in the same way as we would not stop for a moment until we win the victory of Ukraine.
We are aware that Ukraine's European integration is to guarantee all generations of our people a free and secured life based on the best human values. That is why it is an honor, a great responsibility for each of us to participate in the realization of our country's European aspirations.
What is 115 days? These are many things, there are hundreds of talks, meetings, telephone conversations, hundreds of actions, rallies, concerts in support of Ukraine and our candidacy, hundreds of decisions made. These are hundreds of different updated procedures and thousands, thousands of pages of the perfectly filled questionnaire we received from the European Commission. It wasn't easy, but we did it. Congratulations. We have created a rock-solid foundation that can no longer destroy anyone and on which we can make our European future our present. Ukraine is fighting for its value choice – to be an independent state in a large family, a free family, a new, European family.
Ukrainians have to defend their independence, the safety of each person with their arms in their hands, so that Ukrainian mornings begin not as tragic as today, with a russian missile strike in Odesa and the region, from numerous casualties, and that Ukrainian wounds are as peaceful as the wounds of every capital of Europe. I very much want everyone in public office today to perceive their duty to work for the sake of the European choice as a struggle for our country, the struggle for Ukraine, for us. We must prepare the state for the beginning of the membership negotiations as intensively and as responsibly as prepared by the decision on the candidate.
The flag of the European Union will appear in this hall today. And it should be not just a beautiful gesture, not just a symbol – it must be a symbol of our task, the task of all of us, all branches of power, first of all, that there are no pauses in our work, that every decision necessary for the European path of Ukraine is made. And these decisions must be of positive impact for Ukrainian society, Ukrainian families, Ukrainian citizens.
Acquiring membership in the European Union is not only geopolitics or the realization of political aspirations. It is specific things. These are specific advantages that benefit the life of every person in Ukraine, every company, every state institution. Only recently has been done "transport visa waiver," "aviation visa waiver," we have received the most open access to the European market without duties and quotas. We have joined the Common European Energy Network and are now able to export electricity to European Union countries. This is a revolutionary solution for our economy and our country. In turn - "customs visa waiver," "digital visa waiver," i.e., Ukraine's accession to the program "Digital Europe." We need to speed up work on the "industrial visa waiver greatly." And, of course, we have to reach the decision to abolish the roaming fee between Ukraine and the EU countries on a permanent basis. The European way is just such decisions, each of which strengthens our country and each of you.
Together, they create new opportunities for the whole of Europe. With the realization of Ukrainian potential, Europe is getting stronger - stronger! - Together with Ukraine.
Many decisions will depend on the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, on each of the deputies, on how much you, dear MPs, are ready to work for this path, and on how much the officials will work in coordination with you and our diplomacy.
The Association Agreement between Ukraine and the European Union has already been implemented by 63 percent, and 37 percent remains a task for us all, for our country. But you still have to develop, protect before colleagues and approve dozens, dozens of important bills. It won't be easy either, but there is no alternative. Even if you know that you do not collect applause for any decision, but if this decision requires this difficult European path of our country, you have to make such decisions.
Today, we are signing a joint statement that is a signal of the unity of all branches of government and a testimony to our determination in achieving Ukraine's strategic goal, namely, full membership in the European Union. And the signing of this application matters the same as signing the application for the fifth day of the war. We have gone to the 115-day candidate and our path to membership should not take decades, years. We have to overcome this path as quickly as possible - it is up to us. We have to do our part perfectly to enable our friends in the European Union as fast as to make another historic decision for us.
Dear people, today I want to thank every European people and every leader who has advocated the candidacy for our country. So many negotiations in such a short period of time have probably never been. But all these negotiations were substantive, they were all thought out, sometimes not easy. And I want to thank everyone in attendance, our Cabinet. Thank you very much! Everyone and everyone. And, indeed, a difficult job that eventually became successful.
And great personal contribution to this success has been made by the great friends of Ukraine who are, remain, confident, and will be our great friends. This is European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. And today I am honored to invite the President of the European Commission to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. Ursula, I would like to once again thank you for the leadership in building these powerful, strong historical relations between Ukraine and Europe, which have become our new history, a new European history, already a common European history of Ukraine. Glory to Ukraine!
Many decisions will depend on the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, on each of the deputies, on how much you, dear MPs, are ready to work for this path, and on how much the officials will work in coordination with you and our diplomacy.
The Association Agreement between Ukraine and the European Union has already been implemented by 63 percent, and 37 percent remains a task for us all, for our country. But you still have to develop, protect before colleagues and approve dozens, dozens of important bills. It won't be easy either, but there is no alternative. Even if you know that you do not collect applause for any decision, but if this decision requires this difficult European path of our country, you have to make such decisions.
Today, we are signing a joint statement that is a signal of the unity of all branches of government and a testimony to our determination in achieving Ukraine's strategic goal, namely, full membership in the European Union. And the signing of this application matters the same as signing the application for the fifth day of the war. We have gone to the 115-day candidate and our path to membership should not take decades, years. We have to overcome this path as quickly as possible - it is up to us. We have to do our part perfectly to enable our friends in the European Union as fast as to make another historic decision for us.
Dear people, today I want to thank every European people and every leader who has advocated the candidacy for our country. So many negotiations in such a short period of time have probably never been. But all these negotiations were substantive, they were all thought out, sometimes not easy. And I want to thank everyone in attendance, our Cabinet. Thank you very much! Everyone and everyone. And, indeed, a difficult job that eventually became successful.
And great personal contribution to this success has been made by the great friends of Ukraine who are, remain, confident, and will be our great friends. This is European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. And today I am honored to invite the President of the European Commission to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. Ursula, I would like to once again thank you for the leadership in building these powerful, strong historical relations between Ukraine and Europe, which have become our new history, a new European history, already a common European history of Ukraine. Glory to Ukraine!
More posts by topic
“Top news”
18 April 2024 10:27
17 April 2024 19:21
17 April 2024 18:48
17 April 2024 17:49
17 April 2024 12:00
16 April 2024 20:33
16 April 2024 18:57
16 April 2024 18:00
16 April 2024 16:27
16 April 2024 14:15