Tents are a common fixture on Independence Square, except that this time around the tent town in the heart of Kyiv was as symbolic as never before. Ukraine marked its Day of Europe, with every tent representing one of the European nations. The Spaniards staged a guitar players’ competition. Their Greek neighbors treated passersby to anisette, their national anise flavored liqueur, and rice-stuffed grape leaves. The Turks invited everybody to dance to their Middle Eastern tunes, while British photographers shared insights into professional photography. Ukrainians had an opportunity to see, hear, touch, and taste the attractions of European integration.
It has been a third time that Ukraine marked the Day of Europe. While the remaining European countries celebrate it on May 9, Ukraine decided to postpone it because of Victory Day celebrations. Odesa and Donetsk will also mark the Day of Europe.
Finland’s Ambassador to Ukraine Laura Reinila attended all three celebrations of this day in Kyiv. “After the Orange Revolution Ukraine has drawn closer to the EU. We have started to speak a single language of common values,” she said. It was these values that the Finnish ambassador discussed with Ukrainians on Kyiv’s main thoroughfare — Khreshchatyk. For the first time in three years the European tent town hosted public debates of sorts. Every hour from noon till dusk the organizers changed the discussion topic and participants. Sweden’s Ambassador Jon-Krister Olander discussed the possible ways for the EU to help raise living standards in Ukraine. A-BA-BA-HA-LA-MA-HA Publishing House chief editor Ivan Malkovych and the writer Oksana Zabuzhko participated in the discussion of Ukraine’s cultural integration with the EU.
Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration Oleh Rybachuk and Head of the European Commission Office in Ukraine Ien Boug spoke about the EU Constitution, answering questions from ordinary Ukrainians. Stefan Skovmand, a diplomat of the EC Office in Kyiv, admitted to being impressed with the profound questions from Ukrainians. “Now people have a real sense of proximity to the European Union,” he offered the probable reason of the Ukrainians’ familiarity with European issues. Not surprisingly, there were many questions that diplomats would rather not answer, such as “When will Ukraine joint the EU?” When asked this highly overused question, Mr. Skovmand answered with a smile: “As soon as Ukraine is ready to join, the EU will be ready to admit it.”
Speaking of the risks of applying for EU membership, European Commission Office Head Ien Boug said, “When such a big country as Ukraine applies for membership, it must try to foresee the answer. President Victor Yushchenko spoke about his two goals: first, to make Ukraine a genuinely European nation; second, to help it achieve EU membership. After the implementation of the EU-Ukraine Action Plan, Ukraine will be able to achieve the first goal, but will still remain a long way off from the second goal.” He further pointed out the tremendous volume of work that lies ahead of Ukraine. Deputy Prime Minister Rybachuk said in his turn that Kyiv will continue to drum up support in EU capitals for Ukraine’s European aspirations. As he put it, this is the purpose of President Yushchenko’s visit to Paris scheduled immediately after the May 29 French referendum on the EU Constitution.
