Kyiv, 21 March 2014 – “Parliamentary faction UDAR believes that today the Ukrainian government, which we are part of, should expedite Ukraine’s application for full EU membership,” said First Deputy Chairman of the Committee on European Integration, Iryna Geraschenko, at a briefing held at the Ukraine Crisis Media Center.
According to her, now that the European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy, Štefan Füle has said that there is a possibility of EU enlargement as one of the responses to the challenges posed by Russia before the world, the door to EU is slightly opened, and Ukraine should use this opportunity. “We need to do all we can to ensure the government submits [EU membership] application,” said Iryna Geraschenko.
She also underscored that faction members believe that Prime Minister Yatseniuk is mistaken in saying that it is not the right time for Ukraine’s accession to the EU. “Apparently, such statements are being made to pacify the Eastern Ukraine. However, in my opinion, it would be more helpful if adequate information and explanatory policy was implemented in the region. It is necessary to explain how the EU works and how it will influence the Ukrainian economy, its security and social sphere,” the MP said.
Iryna Geraschenko also said that a draft resolution has been submitted to the Verkhovna Rada requesting the government to start the EU membership application procedure. UDAR faction believes that this document must be reviewed by the Parliament already next week.
The MP says that it also is high time for the parliament to consider a bill authored by Borys Tarasyuk which would amend the law on the principles of Ukraine’s foreign and domestic policy and enable Ukraine to go back to the North Atlantic integration. “This is not about Ukraine joining NATO today or tomorrow. All it means is that we need to respond adequately to the issues of Ukraine’s security together with the European Union, which is quite obvious,” said Iryna Geraschenko.
At the same time she emphasized that Ukraine’s full EU membership is not only within the competence of our country. This is a bilateral matter which lies within the competence of the EU.
Iryna Geraschenko is a Member of the Ukrainian Parliament, member of the UDAR party, First Deputy Chairman of the Committee on European Integration, President of the UNIAN information agency (November 2006 – November 2007), Press secretary, Head of the Press Service of the President of Ukraine Victor Yuschenko (February 2005 – September 2006), Head of the Internal Policy Department at the news service of the Inter TV channel (2000 – 2001), journalist, politician.
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