The Road to Europe Is Also Paved with Problems

Ukraine can hope to be granted associate membership in the European Union in 2007-2010, Volodymyr S IDENKO , leader of the group drawing up the Presidential report, “Ukraine and the European Union,” told a briefing. According to the expert, this will be possible owing to both domestic and foreign factors, in particular, reform of the EU itself. He believes the vectors of integration are determined by long-term strategic tendencies, and Europe needs Ukraine as much as Ukraine does Europe. Still, today’s situation somewhat hinders the course of integration, especially as far as trust in this country as a partner is concerned. In the opinion of Andriy Fialko, chief of the Presidential Administration foreign policy department, if the Ukrainian leadership displays political maturity and ability to find a compromise, Ukraine will be able to move still closer to the EU in spite of current developments (the cassette scandal and opposition protests). In addition, according to Mr. Fialko, the president’s report for the first time provides a balanced answer to the question about Ukraine’s current location on the road to European integration. Also telling is Mr. Fialko’s remark that there is no question of EU membership just for the sake of membership at any price.

The course toward European integration, Sidenko believes, still needs concerted effort to lay the socioeconomic groundwork and conduct a dialogue in society.

But it is also obvious that the EU, in which Ukraine will be able to integrate one way or another (not necessarily becoming a full member), is going to be a union different from the current one. EU expansion and its simultaneous structural reform are already determining the course of development throughout Europe, so no Ukrainian political forces will be able to ignore these processes. The presidential report seems to be stating clearly that European integration is undoubtedly a top-priority problem of domestic policy.

Yet, one must always be aware that EU expansion as such, with due account of our lack of readiness to speak about rapprochement and true partnership with the EU, is creating very serious problems for Ukraine.