Baltic ambassadors urge Ukraine to join European Union

Jaan Hein,
Estonian Ambassador

Estonia advises Ukraine on reforms. We are an example of a successful state. In the 1990s, we went through the reforms that Ukraine needs to undergo, taking Sweden and Finland as our examples.

I know that reforms are painful, but if you want to cut a finger, you should do it at once.

Ukraine needs to undergo rapid and painful changes to be better off later on. Also government needs to clearly explain the population why they do these reforms. This is the only way to avoid massive protests.

Estonia also understood that the best way to save costs and bring transparency to our government is though electronic governance.

For example, any Estonian now could file a tax declaration in 20 minutes on the Internet without lines, multiple copies of the same document, which practically eliminates the possibilities for bribes.

Pension reform was one of the most painful reforms.

We started it in 1992 with equally small pensions for everyone. It’s now that we really feel the fruits. We raised the pension age. Estonian women retire at the age of 57 years old and men at 62 years old.

The oldest Estonian settlement in Ukraine dates back 150 years. Estonians came here to develop lands given by the Russian Empire.

There are still two ‘Estonia villages’ in Crimea where around 120 ethnic Estonians live and grow vegetables.

Atis Sjanits,
Latvian Ambassador

If Ukraine wants to be a well-off country, reforms are the only remedy. The longer you wait, the more difficult it will be. Many countries underwent these reforms. There is no need to re-invent the wheel for Ukraine, just take their experience and apply without any delay.

For the four years I’ve been serving in Ukraine, this is the first time that I see a strong will for reforms, but it meets strong opposition.

Almost every second person that I meet here either underwent his military service in Latvia, has relatives or friends in our country.

After Cyprus and Russia, Latvia is the third country where Ukrainians invest. In 2007 Latvia invited Ukrainian specialists, mostly in shipbuilding to work legally in our country.

With the crisis, the demand became lower, but we plan to invite more Ukrainian professionals after our economy recovers more.

Petras Vaitiekunas,
Lithuanian Ambassador

Lithuania has been and continues to be Ukraine’s lobby in the European Union. We explain how important it is to have your country among our ranks, especially for the geopolitical stability.

Lithuania also hopes for Ukraine to sign the free trade agreement as soon as possible. Lithuania has had rather active trade relationships with Ukraine.

Now we hold free seminars across Ukraine’s regions on how to make Ukrainian goods of European standards. It should help Ukraine’s producers to see the future and also Lithuanian partners that buy goods from them.

I also hope that the relationship between our countries should rest upon the human values, the values of the European civilization.

The clashes of values cause wars in this region.