Euromaidan movement as the corner stone of a new Ukraine

In the dramatic events of 21 November 2013, when Viktor Yanukovych and his government suspended the signature of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, the Euromaidan movement began as a spontaneous gathering of a group of students claiming their basic right to determine their own future. It then grew into a massive popular uprising that went beyond its primary cause and signaled a clear determination of the Ukrainian nation to change, to modernize and to reform their country.

Today, we can say that this movement developed into a symbol of Ukrainian resolve to live in a free and democratic society. They fought for the values the European Union is built upon and courageously decided to take the destiny of their country into their own hands. November     21 is a day which will go down in the history of Ukraine, as the day when Ukrainians regained their right to articulate their free choice and express what direction they want their country to take. Many challenges lie ahead, but the irreversible process of change has started.

One year later, we can look back on the Euromaidan movement as the corner stone of a new Ukraine. And despite the very painful events that followed, it is important to keep the spirit and thoughts of the Maidan square and to incorporate these into the current and future challenges of the country.

As the newly elected Verkhovna Rada is preparing to open its doors and to appoint the new government, the popular mandate of the Maidan should be the guiding principle for the new authorities who will face a responsibility to meet the great expectations of last November. First and foremost, by rooting out systemic corruption, by finalizing the judicial reforms and by establishing a functioning rule of law system. The strength and transparency of Ukraine’s own institutions are as important for its security and survival as is the finding of peaceful solution to the conflict in Donbas and reviving the country’s economy.

The European Union and international community should help Ukraine along this way. The European Parliament will remain fully committed to Ukraine, as it was through the work of its unprecedented Cox-Kwasniewski mission, which worked until the very last minute to help Ukraine meet the Association requirements.

The Euromaidan is now part of the collective memory of the Ukrainian people and of Europe. I am very glad that the representatives of the Euromaidan will be our special guests this week in Strasbourg during the annual ceremony of the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. I would like to express my profound respect to the participants of the movement and pay tribute to those who gave their lives for what will hopefully be a better future for their country. The real significance of this day will become ever more visible in the years ahead.