26 June 2009, 10:53
Mykola Tomenko: The Objective of the Eastern Partnership is to implement the Projects of Ukrainian Europeanhood
Today, the delegation of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine headed by Mykola Tomenko, Vice-Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, takes part in the sitting of the Parliamentary Assembly of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Sejm and Senate of the Republic of Poland and Seimas of the Lithuanian Republic held in Lublin (the Republic of Poland).
In his speech at the opening of the 2nd sitting of the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of Ukraine, Poland and Lithuania, M.Tomenko stressed that he highly appreciated the substantial assistance rendered by the Polish and Lithuanian parliament members at the international and European forums, within the scope of the international and European institutions, including the European Parliament.
M.Tomenko considers the Polish-Swedish initiative "Eastern Partnership" ratified at the recent summit in Prague as "a very positive achievement in the European pursuits of Ukraine".
He stated that Ukraine had clearly set the full-fledged integration into the EU as its strategic priority.
However, the Vice-Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine stressed that every project should have the practical dimension and be financially substantiated. "The possible allocation of 600 million EUR for 2010-2013 is not an adequate sum for the development of partnership with six countries, whose population exceeds 75 million citizens", - he stated.
The allocated funds should be spent for the particular projects to demonstrate actual value of the "Eastern Partnership" and testify of its being oriented at the final result. In case of Ukraine, the funds could be allocated for the modernization of frontier infrastructure", - stated M.Tomenko.
In his speech M.Tomenko dwelled upon another matter of importance enhancement of energy security at the European continent.
Summing up, the Vice-Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine stressed that Ukraine was interested in further development of cooperation within the scope of Ukrainian-Polish-Lithuanian Inter-Parliamentary Assembly.