European integration aspirations remain on paper

Clemency granted for the ex-Minister of Internal Affair of Ukraine Yurii Lutsenko is a significant step towards signing the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement. While the President is solving the issues of selective justice, MPs are trying to establish cooperation with leaders of European countries. A considerable part of tasks were tasks assigned to the Committee on European Integration, but its sittings are being hampered by some members. Due to the absence of quorum, 2 of 3 meetings in March and 2 meetings in April were not held. The Committee has got over 100 bills accumulated, including draft laws on visa liberalization with the EU.

"Today, our partners have new additional questions to Ukraine. But I'm convinced, that after these Parliamentary elections, all cautions will be left behind, and the way to EU-Ukraine Association will be passed - Viktor Yanukovych"

Who prevents visa regime facilitation?

On April 17, members of the Committee on European Integration of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine didn't manage to conduct the scheduled sitting due to the absence of quorum. 9 of 16 MPs failed to appear on the meeting. According to the Head Ihor Nemyria, only 2 of them have informed about the absence in advance. The rest of MPs from the Party of Regions have missed the sitting without a valid reason. Moreover, in the morning they were seen on the other meeting.

• I would abstain from using strong words like sabotage, but it's the fourth time during last month and a half that we can't start working. It looks like political gesture. – says the Head of the Committee. – It is especially disappointing that we were supposed to consider 2 bills today, directed by the VRU Head, which are of the key importance for visa liberalization plan and would finish its first stage. Unfortunately, our Committee is unable to perform this task.

Half-conducted meeting

Head of the EU Delegation to Ukraine Jan Tombinski and Ambassador of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to Ukraine Simon Smith visited the Committee last week. According to the agenda, MPs were supposed to consider more than 50 draft laws. Among them were: Draft Law on Joint Stock Companies, which involves reducing the quorum for general meetings of joint stock companies in order to ensure stable investment in Ukraine, the Draft Law simplified procedure for state registration of small business entities, Draft Law, which is intended to restrict the sale and consumption of beer, alcohol and low-alcohol beverages, tobacco products... At the end of the meeting, within consideration of the category "other", British Ambassador Simon Smith was going to present the results surveys determining level of awareness of key target groups and communication campaign strategy in the framework of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement. The meeting was going to be quite active. However, most of the issues remained unconsidered due to the absence of quorum. 9 of 16 MPs have ignored meeting of the Committee not for the first time. Only 4 MPs had valid reasons to be absent. Ivan Ktrylenko (AUU Batkivshchyna faction) was on the meeting of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (PABSEC) in Crimea, Stepan Kurpil (AUU Batkivshchyna) was in Poland within cross-border cooperation projects, Anton Kisse (Party of Regions) was on off-site meeting of the Special Control Commission of the Verkhovna Rada on Privatization, and Olena Netetska (Party of Regions), Secretary of the Committee was ill. The other 5 MPs have missed the meeting without a valid reason. Viktor Tykhonov, Mykola Dmytruk andViacheslav Zadorozhnii have informed the Head of the Committee that whey will work in their districts during negotiations with EU representatives, what is contrary to the work plan of the Parliament. MP from the Party of Regions Yuliia Loivochkina and non-faction MP Viktor Baloha haven't explained their absence at all.

Due to the absence of the quorum, those who were present started the meeting with final part of the agenda – speeches of EU representatives. British Ambassador Simon Smith has stated that the government should pay more attention to informing the public about specific benefits of European integration.

• The Association Agreement will bring great benefits to Ukraine, – said representative of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to Ukraine. – Therefore, we must speak about the improvement of environmental protection and investment climate, creation of new opportunities for Ukrainian companies and construction of judicial system, which can be trusted by citizens, but not about general issues.

Head of the EU Delegation to Ukraine Jan Tombinski had supported this position. He has stated that the Committee on European Integration should have played the key role in this process.

MPs of Ukraine agreed to the EU representatives. However, on the background of upset meeting, it looked like they were only trying to save the Committee's reputation with their speeches. Hampering an event of such level and another difference in statements regarding European integration aspirations of the state as well as ignoring the work of the Committee by its members, narrows the window of opportunity.

Who impedes the Committee on European Integration working?

The Committee has got over 100 bills accumulated, which pertain to compatibility of Ukrainian legislation and EU legislation.

Table. Attendance on the Committee sittings