Mr. President, Ms. Ashton,
Ukraine’s recent election has shown that the country is a functioning democracy. The new president will be governing in the face of a robust opposition and a free media. This is as it should be. It is to be hoped that opposition will be constructive and that standards of governance in the country will improve.
The election campaign confirmed that Ukraine’s political elites want to continue with the process of integration with the European Union and to maintain good neighbourly relations with the Russian Federation. The European Union must respond with clear signals welcoming both trends. At the same time, Ukraine needs to reinforce its internal efforts to strengthen the rule of law, the fight against corruption and free market reforms. If such progress is made then EU must consider extending a promise of membership to Ukraine.
In the meantime, we should encourage and do more for the integration at the grassroots level. People to people exchanges, youth visits, school visits, regional and city twinning arrangements, scholarships for students, business contacts between small and medium sized enterprises as well as large corporation are the best way of spreading the message that reforms are the way to a better future.
But what is most important at this moment, Ms. Ashton, is that the EU finds ways of liberalising its entry visa regime. We must ensure the greatest possible flow of people across our frontier with Ukraine. Our consulates and our frontier personnel must welcome visitors and not intimidate them.
As one of my constituents wrote to me recently, "help a thousand people travel to the EU from eastern Ukraine and one hundred thousand will hear about their favourable impressions when they return”. That is the way to underpin the reforms we want to see happening in this valuable, democratic neighbor of ours.
Thank You
