The European Integration Of Ukraine
IA Rex.ru, Mar 31 2015
Kyiv is trying to regain the sympathy of the cold Europeans to them, and even plans to introduce the post of Vice Prime Minister for European Integration. However, this solution is unlikely to accelerate the allocation of new tranches or the introduction of a visa-free regime. The Director of the Russian Institute of the Political Analysis Alexander Shpunt told us why the government of Ukraine needs a new Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration, but also about why Ukraine is not welcome in the European Union. He says
“It is worth remembering that the post in the government of Ukraine of Vice Prime Minister for European Integration existed for a very long time, under both Yanukovych and Yushchenko. In this sense there is nothing new here. Rather surprisingly, this appointment was not until now. As at all of Ukraine’s European integration in general, we can say that it’s not the most fashionable topic now. European integration today, in fact, has virtually collapsed. Ukraine signed an Association Agreement with the European Union, and it is now in force, but in practice the Ukrainians did not feel a thing. You have to understand that Turkey has a similar agreement with the European Union already more than half a century, and is in no way closer towards joining the EU, It has not changed its status in relation to Europe from the perspective of any preferences. This pre-political actiont does not have any practical effects, at least none that were stated, whereby Europe and Ukraine could thus be implemented through this bridge in the near future.
“Now the Ukrainian government is distancing itself from the topic of European integration. It has ceased to be fashionable, primarily because the current government cannot show its citizens any progress in this direction. The reason for the absence of any results in the course of Ukraine’s European integration lies primarily in the position of Europe itself. There is the example of Turkey, Moldova, and other countries. European integration from the point of view of Europe means quite a simple thing. Ukrainians and Moldavians, like Turks, are not forbidden to adopt European standards or to readapt their national system, for example, to quality control of products on the European standards, are not prohibited to change their trade preferences with regard to both Ukrainian and European products and much more. But it is limited, since nobody not only promise no rapprochement with Europe, but more than that, they firmly say that this will not happen.
“The EU is quite a private club, which already suffers from the presence in it of members that do not meet the EU standards. I’m not just talking about Greece and Cyprus. I say, for example, about Romania, Bulgaria, the Baltic countries, Ireland. Even those countries whose economies are in a much more satisfactory condition than the Ukrainian, are viewed by the EU as an encumbrance. In this sense, Ukraine is absolutely not what to expect. And the problem is not in the instability of the Ukrainian regime, not in the beyond of corruption, not in the war in the Donbass. Of course, any of the above elements is sufficient for Europe to close its doors to Ukraine. But the fact is that Europe no longer has a policy of expansion. And it will not make for Ukraine an exception.”
Niqnaq 