Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine

The Chair of the Committee on Ukraine's Integration into the EU Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze and the First Deputy Chair of the Committee Vadym Halaichuk took part in the Conference of Parliamentary Committees on European Integration/States Participating in the Stabilisation and Association Process in South-Eastern Europe (COSAP).

Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze noted that this was an important opportunity for the Ukrainian delegation to communicate with the politicians of Montenegro, where the conference was taking place, as well as to convey their messages to other states of the region, represented by parliamentary delegations. Recently, according to the Chair of the Committee, a serious geopolitical shift took place in the EU regarding awareness of the aim, with which the European Union had been established, namely peace, prosperity, well-being and security of its members. Therefore, it is important for all countries aspiring to join the EU — Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, as well as the countries of the Western Balkans — to use the window of opportunity opened for EU integration. “For all of us, this is also an opportunity to develop our vision of what we expect from reforms in the EU. It is important that all states that seek to join do not become hostages of the internal processes in the European Union, which may be an obstacle to expansion,” said the Chair of the Committee.

She also raised a question of how to counter growing European scepticism. According to her, all Eurosceptics should look at the way of life that the European Union provides to its members, and which includes peace, well-being, and respect for human rights. In contrast, dictatorships such as Russia bring only violent change of borders and destruction. “Russia brings death and destruction, humiliation of human dignity and violation of civil rights and freedoms. Therefore, we must do everything to achieve our goals on the way to the EU and jointly resist evil,” said Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze.

The Chair of the Committee noted that the Balkan states remember the pain of war well and understand how important peace and security are. “That's why we count on you. Security, prosperity and peace for our people must be our main driver. A European project was created for this purpose. And we should strive for it together,” said the Chair of the Committee.