15 October 2013, 08:51
(October 11, 2013, Kyiv)
We, the participants of the Round table discussion, held the meeting in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine in Kyiv on October 11, 2013.
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In view of importance of the current stage of preparation of Ukraine for signing the Association Agreement, as well as deepened and comprehensive Free Trade Zone with the EU (hereafter the Association Agreement), participants of the Round table discussion made the following statement:
“We address leaders of all branches of power in Ukraine and primarily the President of Ukraine Viktor Fedorovych Yanukovych, the Prime Minister of Ukraine Mykola Yanovych Azarov, and the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Volodymyr Vasyliovych Rybak with a calling to take all the necessary measures in order to fulfill commitments, requirements and recommendations of the Council of Europe and the European Parliament monitoring mission, headed by Pat Cox and Alexander Kwasniewski and to adopt and introduce the respective bills in order to secure signing of the Association Agreement during the Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius on November 28-29, 2013.
We believe that the year 2013 is a decisive one for the future of Ukraine and the European choice will be one of the most important on the way to its historical development, which shall allow consolidate different political forces and the whole Ukrainian society in order to accelerate inner reforms and achieve comprehensive progress and prosperity. Due to the Association Agreement, relations between the EU and Ukraine will gradually deepen to the level of political association and economic integration. We view this Agreement as a key tool for modernization of Ukraine in line with the European model, as well as reinforcement of common values of democracy and the rule of law, and achievement of the highest living standards for the citizens of Ukraine.
We uphold the initiative of the Verkhovna Rada Inter-faction deputy union the “European Choice”, the specialized parliamentary Committee on European Integration and the majority of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to accelerate the process of European integration of Ukraine and establish, in view of this, the following working groups:
· on elaboration of the “National strategy of European integration of Ukraine” (involving representatives of Ukrainian authorities, opposition, public society and the EU);
· on elaboration and introduction of the mechanism of special procedure for adoption of European legislation – the “short path” in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine (involving the EU experts);
· on examination and prevention of possible undesirable consequences that arise in connection with preparation for introduction of the Free Trade Zone between Ukraine and the EU for trade-economic relations with other partners;
· on consideration of proposals regarding budgetary support of the European strategy of Ukraine and financial support on the part of EU.
We deem also that visa free regime with the EU is the immediate advantage of European integration. The tasks stipulated by the First phase of the Visa Liberalization Action Plan should be accomplished and we should move to the second implementational phase, which shall secure introduction of the visa free regime for Ukrainian citizens in 2014.
We put forward an initiative to introduce the above mentioned Round table discussion on a permanent basis; to organize and hold sectoral round table discussions in order to consider plans of European integration in all spheres of economic and social life in Ukraine; and to establish systemic work in these directions.
We are convinced that the European integration of Ukraine has become irrevocable and, thus, we suggest hold another Round table discussion after signing of the Association Agreement in December 2013 in Kyiv in order to discuss further moves”.