Speaker Parubiy: welfare and security depend on more active regional cooperation between Central and Eastern Europe

Press Service of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Secretariat
31 August 2016, 12:30

A conference entitled Solidarity and Sovereignty: Parliamentary Meeting of Central and Eastern European Countries has started in Warsaw (the Republic of Poland).

The participants in the conference are national parliamentary delegations and their chairs representing 11 states, including Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, Andriy Parubiy.

The keynote of the conference is a desire to bring the European Union in line with the imperatives, enhancement of security on the continent and formation of equal cooperation under the principle of mutual respect to be able to implement joint interests.

Andriy Parubiy noted that the issue of the European integration for Ukraine is not just a discussion. "This civilized choice cost Ukraine very much," he said having recalled that the flags of the European Union were present alongside with the Ukrainian ones during the Maidan rally events. He stressed that at present, Ukrainian servicemen in the east of Ukraine are protecting not only Ukraine, but also the whole free world.

Parubiy said that one of the global challenges today is the aggression of the Russian Federation. "I believe that Ukraine is not the ultimate goal for Putin," he said having added that the Baltic countries do also feel the threat.

The Ukrainian Speaker is confident that security lies not only in military challenges, as current Russia's policy has too many different dimensions: economic, energy, informational, which is particularly important. Each of these dimensions needs respective response. The whole European Union has to respond to them jointly. Mr. Parubiy is confident that the most appropriate response could be provided thanks to the cooperation at the regional level. "Ukraine has been committed to the European integration and such aspirations have cost it much. Ukraine understands the importance of regional cooperation. The Region of Central and Eastern Europe has considerable unused potential in the sector of energy, economy and transit," he added. According to Andriy Parubiy, the potential should be used to "better the welfare and security of our citizens."

According to Marshal of the Sejm [the Parliament of the Republic of Poland], Marek Kuchcinski, negative events are the consequence of absence of any changes and reforms. He added that Europe needs the European Union in a same way as the European Union needs Europe. He said Europe is troubled by numerous crises within the European Union, in particular, helplessness in the east (the war), south (migration) and the opposition to the integration (Brexit).