Eastern Partnership must be adapted to today's realities - Ambassador Chentsov

27.11.2021 13:36

Ukrinform

Ukraine sees participation in the Eastern Partnership as an important initiative that needs to be adapted to address the challenges of today, taking into account the level of ambition of all participants and the goals they seek to achieve in relations with the EU.

Vsevolod Chentsov, Ukraine's representative to the EU, said this in an exclusive comment to Ukrinform during the international conference "EU and Eastern Partnership" held in The Hague on Friday, November 26.

"Ukraine sees participation in the Eastern Partnership as an important initiative that must be adapted to today's requirements to meet the needs of its members, taking into account the level of their ambitions and goals they seek to achieve in relations with the EU. In the case of Ukraine and other EU partners – Georgia and Moldova – Partnership instruments should focus on gradual rapprochement with the EU in relevant sectors and preparation for the future of EU membership, and in this context, it is important for the EU to recognize the reality of the ‘Association Trio’ united by a common order in relations with the EU,” the ambassador said.

In his opinion, it is necessary to designate together with the EU achievable medium-term goals, such as, for example, participation in the EU common market, the implementation of green or digital transformation policies. "These are quite realistic things given political will and systemic hard work on both sides," Chentsov said.

The diplomat also stressed that these goals are quite achievable, because at one time the conclusion of the Association Agreement or securing visa-free travel seemed surreal tasks, but they were realized anyway.

The EU-Eastern Partnership International Conference in The Hague, among other things, focused on the challenges facing Ukraine and other project participants today.

It is in the EU’s interest to invest in stability on its eastern borders, while strengthening democratic institutions, rule of law, and independent media will make partner countries more resilient and stable, according to Jaap Fredericks, Special Representative of the Dutch diplomacy for Europe and Eastern Partnership.

President of the Ukrainian National Bar Association, Lidia Izovitova, Vice President of the Association Valentyn Hvozdiy, and Chairman of its International Relations Committee Ivan Hrechkivskyi spoke about the progress and achievements of legal reforms in Ukraine.

Due to restrictive measures related to the coronavirus epidemic, some speakers spoke via videoconference.

The conference was held ahead of the Eastern Partnership summit scheduled to be held in Brussels in December.

The event in The Hague was organized by the LINKS Europe nonprofit in cooperation with the City Administration of The Hague and the Embassy of Ukraine in the Netherlands, and with the support of The Hague Humanity Hub.