The Chair of the Committee on Ukraine’s Integration into the EU Ivanna
Klympush-Tsintsadze and the First Deputy Chair of the Committee Vadym
Halaychuk took part in the discussion “Parliamentary diplomacy as a factor
in building partnerships in the context of war and post-war recovery”.
The Chair of the Committee on Ukraine’s Integration into the EU, Ivanna
Klympush-Tsintsadze, outlined key tasks of the Parliament in the current
extraordinary context. They include joint work of the MPs to counter
Russian aggression and legislative work aimed at European integration.
There is also inter-parliamentary diplomacy, which effectively uses all
possible parliamentary platforms to advance Ukraine's agenda. In this
context, the joint work of all political forces of the Verkhovna Rada is
needed. “We should make maximum use of all parliamentary assemblies and
official platforms, where we must attract attention to Ukraine, and we
know how to do it successfully,” said the Chair of the Committee.
It is unacceptable to create obstacles and restrictions for the
international work of the opposition MPs because they represent the
country's interests, not personal ones. “When artificial restrictions are
imposed, in particular on opposition MPs, I consider it a direct harm to
the interests of Ukraine. It must be stopped,” insisted Ivanna
Klympush-Tsintsadze. She also considers censorship in the media outlets of
the Verkhovna Rada unacceptable. “There is censorship on the website of
the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. For example, we publish news on the
Committee's website. There is no censorship there. Similar news, but
censored, appears on the main page of the Verkhovna Rada. This is direct
censorship, and they keep silent about it,” said Ivanna
Klympush-Tsintsadze. She also emphasised that it is impossible to build
the institutional capacity of the Parliament by establishing parallel
structures without any legal powers. “Unfortunately, these projects create
chaos in the system of institutions from the point of view of the European
integration. I appeal to all foreign partners. If you want to help the
Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, please help build the institutional capacity of
the Verkhovna Rada itself within the framework of its powers, prescribed
rules and procedures,” emphasised the Chair of the Committee.
First Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Ukraine’s Integration into the
EU Vadym Halaychuk stressed the important role of the Verkhovna Rada in
the process of the European integration. “One of the main achievements is
that they started to listen to us. Our ideas, requests, and
recommendations are often reflected in official documents. We have the
opportunity, in consultations with our colleagues from the European
Parliament, to influence draft resolutions of the European Parliament
conserning Ukraine before their adoption,” said Vadym Halaychuk. He also
emphasised the importance of the Parliament's participation in the
negotiation process on Ukraine's accession to the European Union. “As we
have already seen, a lot depends on the Verkhovna Rada, and how
successfully it fulfils certain obligations. The Verkhovna Rada has
already shown itself as a very capable body. In the future, more
obligations will be imposed on it,” said the First Deputy Chairman of the
Committee on Ukraine’s Integration into the EU.
Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze added that the first meeting of the new
convocation of the European Parliament will be held next week. “If we want
to be heard in the European Parliament, we should be present at this
meeting and communicate with all political groups to outline our
expectations, our agenda, our needs and cooperation for the future. But I
still don't see the willingness of my colleagues to do so,” said the Chair
of the Committee.