The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Volodymyr Rybak hopes that the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement will be signed in November this year during the Lithuanian presidency in the EU
26 March 2013, 11:14
The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Volodymyr Rybak hopes that the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement will be signed in November this year during the Lithuanian presidency in the EU.
“Ukraine has no need to prove that we are the neighbors of the united Europe. Ukraine is a good neighbor of the united Europe,” said Volodymyr Rybak on opening of the V Assembly meeting of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Saejma of the Republic of Lithuania and Sejm and Senate of the Republic of Poland in Warsaw on Tuesday.
“Acquisition
of a full membership right in the European Union remains a strategic goal of Ukraine.
Practical actions on the part of the European Union and Ukraine could accelerate this
process,” he noted. “We hope that due to the support of Polish and Lithuanian
friends we will be able to reach progress on this way during the Lithuanian
presidency in the EU in November,” added Volodymyr Rybak. Volodymyr Rybak stressed that recent approval of the joint Statement on support of European integration of Ukraine by all political forces represented in the Ukrainian Parliament, has become an additional confirmation of stability of Ukraine’s European progress.
“Today we can confidently state that Ukraine has entered its final straight – the signing and ratification of the EU Association Agreement. We view this document as an effective tool for implementing pragmatic political and economic changes in Ukraine, strengthening of democratic institutes and ensuring the rule of law in the Ukrainian society,” stated the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada.
“In this context, the Association Agreement shall create institutional and legal possibilities both for internal reforms and for a full-fledged dialogue with the European Union concerning technical and expert assistance in order to ensure their implementation,” said Volodymyr Rybak. “That is why, it is logical that Ukraine and the European Union are both interested in signing the Agreement,” added the Chairman.
He expressed special gratitude to the authorities of Poland and the Lithuanian Republic for active support of European integration of Ukraine, including, in the process of internal discussions within the European Union. “I am convinced that by joint efforts and under active support of Polish and Lithuanian Parties we can bring the stands of Ukraine and the EU closer, and successfully settle the whole complex of the EU-Ukraine agenda items,” added Volodymyr Rybak.
The Chairman of the Parliament noted also that Ukraine continues its consistent and systemic work over implementing the Action Plan on the EU Visa Free Regime for Ukraine. “We have actually started fulfilling the second phase of the Action Plan – we implement legislative, strategic and program documents,” he said.
“We realize that Europe is waiting for decisive reforms and securing of democratic development principles by Ukraine,” stressed Volodymyr Rybak. “Ukraine, in its turn, is waiting for a step forwards on the part of Europe, for an open doors to the home, having entered which, we would be able to bring in our centuries-long legacy which will, no doubt, be for the good of the whole European community”.
“I am convinced that support of the Euro-integration aspirations of our state is one of the most important aspects of the Trilateral Assembly for Ukraine. Such support was already reflected in the final documents of the previous meetings of the Assembly and has become an important impetus for action for both state bodies and institutions of our states,” said the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada.