Nine years ago, Ukraine abandoned its European perspective. Mykola Azarov’s government and fugitive President Viktor Yanukovych did not want to sign the Association Agreement with the European Union.
Then there was Euromaidan, the Revolution of Dignity, the EU flags on the streets of Kyiv, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, the fallen heroes of the Heavenly Hundred, the occupation of Crimea, Russia’s aggression in eastern Ukraine and a hope for a European future.
On February 24, 2022, Russia’s large-scale war against our country started. The war came to the house of every Ukrainian. Now security no longer depends on how far your city is from the front line. Long-range missiles gather their bloody harvests thousands of miles from the battlefields, those firing them not witnessing their devastation at first hand: the dismantling of military and civilian structures, the maiming or killing of a grandmother or a young girl.
We defend our independence, defend our freedom and the right to be Europeans at the cost of the lives of thousands of Ukrainians. Many of my friends will no longer call me, will not drink a glass of beer with me and will no longer share their joy about their children going to school…
We have paid with the lives of thousands of Ukrainians for the right to be Europeans.
Discussions about the European future of Ukraine
Immediately after the signing of the Association Agreement with the European Union in 2014, a serious discussion began on the next steps on the path to the EU. Ukrainian diplomacy stubbornly fought for a few words in the Union’s documents – the mention of “Ukraine’s European perspective”, the hope for the recognition that at some time in the future our country will be able to join the European Union.
The situation has changed dramatically after large-scale Russian aggression. Due to the war, the “old Europeans” did not have enough arguments to say “no” to Ukraine’s membership in the EU.
It happened despite the fierce fighting, the massacre in Bucha, the massive shelling of peaceful Ukrainian cities. EU caveats at delaying Ukraine’s candidature –”all procedures must be followed”, “candidate status has not yet been granted to some Balkan countries waiting in line”, “Ukraine is not yet ready to receive candidate status”, etc., — have been waived.
They have been waived because of the realization that Ukrainians are defending not only their freedom and independence, but also the freedom and independence of all Europeans. Gradually, a political consensus has been formed in the European Union – Ukraine should receive the status of a candidate for EU membership within a relatively short time.
We have paid with the lives of thousands of Ukrainians for the right to be European.
Ukraine is now a candidate for European Union membership.
On June 23, 2022, a meeting of the European Council was held with the participation of the leaders of EU member states, at which a historic decision was made unanimously for Ukraine: our country was granted the status of a candidate for European Union membership.
However, it was approved under certain conditions. If Ukraine does not fulfill them in time, it may be deprived of the status it so desires and desperately needs.
What are the conditions for applying?
The list of requirements for Ukraine is not very large and we have already partially fulfilled them, now only the will of the authorities is required. One is to complete the process for the appointment of the head of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office.
Some requirements are surprising, such as the requirement to ensure that anti-money laundering legislation complies with FATF standards. As far as we know, Ukraine does not lag behind in this area.
Overall, according to Olha Stefanishyna, Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, our country plans to meet all these requirements by the end of this year.
So, Ukraine needs to:
1) introduce legislation on the procedure for selecting judges for the Constitutional Court of Ukraine;
2) to complete the integrity check by the Ethics Council of candidates for membership of the High Council of Justice and the selection of candidates for the establishment of the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine;
3) strengthen the fight against corruption, particularly at high levels, through active and effective investigations; complete the appointment of a new head of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office and begin and complete the process of appointing a new director of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine;
4) ensure compliance of anti-money laundering legislation with the standards of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF); adopt a comprehensive strategic plan for reforming the entire law-enforcement sector as part of Ukraine’s security environment;
5) introduce an anti-oligarch law to limit the excessive influence of oligarchs on life, namely in the economy, politics and society;
6) overcome the influence of selfish interests by adopting a law on the mass media, which harmonizes the legislation of Ukraine with the EU Directive on audio-visual media services and gives powers to an independent media regulator;
7) complete the reform of legislation on national minorities in accordance with the recommendations made by the Venice Commission.
And, finally, what does granting EU candidate status mean to our country?
I will immediately tell the supporters of simple solutions – tomorrow the rivers of milk and honey will not flow into Ukraine and the EU will not provide us with a lot of money and mountains of weapons. All of this will happen, but it will be later. Joining the EU is a long game in geopolitics, it is a question of choosing between freedom and slavery, it is making a stand for democratic values.
Now, we have finally made our geopolitical European choice. Do not worry. We will receive strong financial instruments of enlargement policy, in addition to the EUR 9 billion that will now be provided to our state as well as strong political support. All of this will happen, undoubtedly.
The main thing is that we have made our choice, and this choice is the right one.
Ukrainians are Europeans. And for that we have paid with the lives of thousands of Ukrainians.
Ihor Zhdanov, Information Defence Project, The Open Policy Foundation
The views expressed in this article are the author’s and not necessarily those of the Kyiv Post.
