Ukraine can join the EU and NATO, despite the occupation of part of the territory - Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze

Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze, Chair of the Committee on Ukraine's Integration into the EU, took part in the webinar «Quo vadis, Ukraine? - Where are you going, Ukraine?». The event was supported by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Ukraine. The participants of the meeting discussed Ukraine's current cooperation with the EU and the prospects of Ukraine’s membership in the European Union. Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze is convinced that the temporary occupation of the Crimea and part of Eastern Ukraine cannot be an obstacle to Ukraine's accession to the European Union and NATO. The Committee Chair recalled that it was the indecision of Germany and France in 2008, which did not support Ukraine and Georgia’s NATO Action Plan, that led to an increase in the Russian Federation's aggressive appetites, its invasion of Georgia in 2008, and the occupation of the part of Ukraine. Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze is convinced that European partners must show determination and provide a clear prospect of Ukraine's membership in the EU and NATO: «The West's indecision and inability to take a political step and provide political prospects for membership to countries such as Ukraine and Georgia have led to further instability, security threats and growing appetites of the Russian Federation. It's not just about Russia's occupation of Ukraine. We are talking about the much bigger goals of the Russian Federation, about the destabilization of the Western world, about the attack on the heart of democracies and societies that have the rule of law, respect for human rights, everything that Russia opposes».

Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze stressed that the European Union also needs to update its security policy: «We already see how Russia is fully using not yet certified Nord Stream-2 as a political and geopolitical tool. And the European Union allows it. It is time for the European Union to reconsider its security policy, listening to countries such as Ukraine. We have a lot to share. We’ve gained extensive experience in resisting Russia's hybrid attacks».

The Chair of the Committee is convinced that the security component should be included in both the renewed Association Agreement with the EU and the Eastern Partnership policy: «If we avoid including this component, it means that we are not serious about Ukraine's integration into the EU. We must clearly define geopolitical challenges and not deviate from the values on which the Western world is based, not replace these values with a pragmatic policy of temporary gain».

Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze stressed that it is important for Ukraine to receive clear support for its prospects for membership in the European Union. «This is important for Ukraine because we are part of the European space. We belong historically, geographically and culturally to Europe. Of course, we have to do a lot of homework to be competitive and meet the EU criteria. But we must see an equally fair approach by the EU to its eastern partners, as it is to the Western Balkans. At the moment we do not see it. And this is a big task for us - to work with the European institutions, governments and societies of the EU member states to ensure that if Ukraine adheres to the Copenhagen criteria, it will be able to start negotiations on its membership in the European Union», the Chair of the Committee summed up.