European integration remains Ukraine’s key strategy, a means of self-assertion as an independent European democracy, and a motive for domestic reforms, declared President Viktor Yushchenko of Ukraine during a meeting with Jerzy Buzek, President of the European Parliament. The Ukrainian head of state favors further simplification of EU entry visa procedures for Ukrainian nationals, progress in the Ukraine-EU visa-free dialog, Ukraine’s integration into Europe’s educational structures, and cooperation in the energy sphere, particularly on the basis of the Brussels declaration on modernizing Ukraine’s gas transportation system.
Stressing the importance of cooperation with the European Parliament, Yushchenko urged its mission to take an active part in the presidential campaign as observers. The President of the European Parliament emphasized that the EU is not backing any presidential candidate and that fair and transparent presidential elections in Ukraine are of special importance to Europe. He added that in time of crisis Ukraine should not slow down cooperation with EU and put off the stand-by loan talks.
Buzek said that within the next couple of months the European Parliament would deliberate EU’s financial aid to Ukraine worth €610 million. On December 22 the Ukrainian president met with students and lecturers at the Institute of International Relations. He said that several months from now Ukraine and EU will have “the most important political document of pre-integration character” – an association agreement. He went on to say that now is not the best time for Ukraine’s accession to the EU: “You can keep knocking on the EU door, but it remains locked.”
