H.Hopko, O.Yurynets participate in strong Baltic Assembly’s EaP conference alongside off-the-format bilateral talks regarding support of Ukraine and slated Ukrainian EU membership
31 May 2019, 18:30
Hanna Hopko, the head of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, participated in the Eastern Partnership Conference organized by the Baltic Assembly
On May 31, the conference was held in Vilnius (Lithuania). Ukraine was presented by the head of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (CFA) Hanna Hopko and the head of the Permanent Delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly Oksana Yurynets.
In her introductory statement, the CFA chief spoke of the past decade of the Eastern Partnership initiative, which had been unquestionably difficult. The sharpest challenge was said to be security, as evidenced by the Russian military aggression, the victims of which were Moldova, Georgia (Sakartvelo), Ukraine, along with other countries. This is a challenge that everyone, however, needs to fight.
H.Hopko also noticed that the European community faced serious problems of migration, terrorism, hybrid threats, anti-European propaganda, the growth of populism and Euroskepticism. However, the EU should maintain the political importance of the Eastern Partnership initiative and demonstrate a brisker pace of development of the relations that meet the needs, expectations and interests of the partners.
O.Yurynets’s speech was, in a word, about the associated members and the long-term "EaP+" model, which should be a firm and fogless road map for a more focused cooperation aiming to deepen branch and economic integration in foreground sectors, with the focus on practical and useful deliverables for citizens of the Eastern Partnership countries.
Hanna Hopko expressed her hope for the continuation of the open door policy by the EU, especially for those countries that are keeping up with the relevant format criteria.
In the course of her visit to Vilnius, H.Hopko had also a series of important bilateral meetings, including A.Kubilius, Deputy Chair of the Committee on European Affairs of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania. During the meetings Hanna Hopko thanked for the consistent support of Ukraine by Lithuania, as well as for promoting the Marshall Plan for Ukraine. The parties discussed their internal political situation after the presidential elections.
In turn, A. Kubilius informed the Ukrainian party about launching a new ambitious initiative - "Ukraine-2027", which is designed to push - by 2027 - Ukraine’s candidacy to be nominated as aspirant to ensuing EU membership.