Tough support

Ukraine’s prospects for EU membership and effective reforms were the top issues on the agenda meetings held between the British Minister for Europe, Jeff Hunn, high-ranking Ukrainian officials in Kyiv. Characteristically, the Ukrainian side laid emphasis on the first issue, while the British side zeroed in on the second one.

Ukraine’s Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych broached the subject of Ukraine’s EU membership during his meeting with Hunn. The head of Ukraine’s government stressed that it is important for Ukraine to introduce this prospect into the new Ukraine- EU agreement. Commenting on Ukraine’s European integration aspirations, the prime minister said that this process is accompanied by the adoption of many decisions aimed at improving the situation in the economic and social spheres. According to the Ukrainian cabinet’s press service, Yanukovych and Hunn also discussed Ukraine’s prospects for Euro-Atlantic integration, particularly the need to better inform the population of Ukraine about NATO’s history and its current tasks and objectives.

Unlike the prime minister, President Viktor Yushchenko during his meeting with the British dignitary placed emphasis on official Kyiv’s unswerving course toward European and Euro-Atlantic integration. He also stressed that Ukraine would reach its strategic objectives along these lines, come what may. The head of the Ukrainian state said he hoped the talks on a new basic Ukraine-EU agreement would be successful, pointing out that Ukraine and Great Britain have similar views on this document.

The president emphasized that Ukrainian society regards the European Neighborhood Policy only as an auxiliary instrument for implementing the European integration policy, not as a new framework of relations. Yushchenko also said he hopes that the agreement on simplified visa procedures between Ukraine and EU will be implemented. He made a special point of stating that Ukraine’s effective European integration policy is the key to the success of democratic transformations in our country.

Great Britain does not seem to need much convincing to realize that Ukraine will eventually become a member of the European community of nations. The British Minister for Europe told a press conference at the UK embassy in Kyiv that Great Britain is one of the EU countries that wholeheartedly support the continuation of the European community’s enlargement. Thus, he made it clear at all the meetings that the UK believes that EU doors must remain open for Ukraine and other countries wishing to join the European community — provided these countries follow the road of reform.

Hunn last visited Ukraine in 2002 and today can see the amazing degree of progress that Ukraine has achieved. He stressed that Great Britain admires the efforts being made by Ukraine on its way to democracy and rule of law.

However, the British Minister for Europe offered no clear-cut answer to The Day’s question of whether Ukraine could count on UK support to have the clause concerning Ukraine’s eventual EU membership included in the new extended Ukraine-EU agreement. He said that the United Kingdom strongly supports Ukraine’s European aspirations. The more progress it registers in terms of reforms involving key institutions the better. Great Britain believes that such reforms are important for Ukraine. With regard to the prospects of the new extended Ukraine-EU agreement, he said that it is safe to say that this agreement will turn out to be a rather comprehensive one, which will be a powerful mechanism for Ukraine, allowing it to harmonize its legislation with that of the EU, and to conduct a dialogue on a very high level.

Commenting on the ongoing struggle between the president and the prime minister, and whether this conforms to democratic principles, Hunn said that all countries are bound to experience political and constitutional hardships from time to time. The main thing is that this should not slow down reforms and the democratic process, and not be an obstacle in establishing rule of law. He stressed that Ukraine should continue with the reforms.

The British Minister for Europe also noted that progress on reforms is of special importance to Ukraine if it really intends to implement its European integration aspirations. In any event, the continuation of these reforms and respect for democracy and rule of law are important, EU membership notwithstanding. Other countries would like to establish relations with Ukraine and do business there, but they must trust it enough to do so; they must ensure that law reigns supreme here. This is precisely why it is in Ukraine’s interests to engage in programs of reforms, whether or not this leads to EU membership.

Time will show whether Ukraine will heed Hunn’s recommendations. Today, however, there are alarming signs that the Ukrainian prime minister is talking more about the prospects of Ukraine’s EU membership and viewing European integration through the “economic and social” prism. At the same time, the Ukrainian president, who views the effectiveness of Ukraine’s European integration policy in the light of democratic transformations, actually has no means of influencing its implementation.