Ukraine needs to be ambitious now enough to constantly remind that EU integration is not an end goal. EU integration is an instrument to build new Ukraine, more resilient, more democratic, more prosperous Ukraine.
This was emphasized during “Ukraine as a New European Union Member: Challenges and opportunities of the integration” by Maria Golub, an expert of the National Interests Advocacy Network “ANTS” on bilateral relations between Ukraine and the EU.
“My colleagues, partners and friends of Ukraine keep saying is that Ukraine needs to be ambitious now enough to constantly remind that EU integration is not an end goal. So for us EU integration is just an instrument. So accession negotiations, membership negotiations is just an instrument to build new Ukraine, let’s say more resilient, more democratic, more prosperous Ukraine and real role model. And we need to pass this messages,” – highlighted by Maria Golub.
The ANTS expert expressed hope that we will be sufficiently ambitious and ready to focus on the path of complex reforms required for membership.
“But we have to commit to a schedule, – she pointed out. – In Brussels I hear a lot that 2030 are very relevant and very let’s say doable. I mean 2030 we could become a full member of European family. EU integration and recovery affords should be in the very same matrix. This understanding goes also from the EU side and from the Ukraine side. his is the right approach. But again more concrete action are needed. And we all have to learn the lesson after Lugano that it’s not enough to present a vision or sometimes not enough to present a number of projects, specialization are needed, prioritization are needed and coordination would be key”.
Maria Holub is convinced that after the Victory, successes on the front line, Ukraine will have another window of opportunity to strengthen the intensive dialogue with the European Union.
“We will need to prepare to very tough negotiations with the European side to future membership talks. So it would be good for Ukraine to prepare well for that,” – she ended.
