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.