On behalf of #Ukraine, we thank you Europe

The Regulation granting visa liberalization to Ukrainian citizens travelling to the EU is now in force, and the first visa free travellers have already savoured this freedom. This not only opens new possibilities for our country, but also poses new challenges to Ukrainian society and the state, writes Serhiy Taruta. 

Visa liberalisation for Ukrainian citizens has amply demonstrated Europe’s unwavering faith in Ukraine and its continued staunch support for our reforms and efforts to rebuild the state.

The main question which Ukrainians need to address in the coming years is what should Ukraine mean for Europe: a problem, or an opportunity, a lingering headache, or a new and vital component of the European family of nations.

I see the grant of visa liberalization for those travelling to the EU as a kind of signal of trust. But, this expression of trust is in the Ukrainian people, not in the Ukrainian state. It is impossible to trust the state which has over the past three years failed to stop the war in the East of the country. The Ukrainian government has turned Ukraine into the poorest country in Europe, and has simultaneously catapulted the country into the top place in the world corruption rankings.

I applaud the EU for sharing confidence in the Ukrainian people, but I remain deeply distrustful of the Ukrainian state in its present shape and form. The Ukrainian state needs to be thoroughly rebuilt, and requires what I call “a democratic reboot”.

My personal objective and that of “OSNOVA” (“The BASIS”), the political party founded on my initiative, is not just to replace the current incumbents in the sense of new personalities to change the composition of the parliament and the government, but to build an entirely new system of state governance that is founded on quality. A system that would match the existing challenges, in particular the challenge of Ukraine’s European integration.

How should Ukraine plan to become a country of opportunity for Europe, instead of a source of its headaches?

First and foremost, it is by stopping the war in Donbass. Today this conflict is a festering cancer in the heart of Europe - the front-line is less than 1000 kilometres from Ukraine’s border with the EU. The war is in its fourth year. The sense and purpose of the fighting have long been forgotten, but it smoulders on with daily fighting, casualties and the death of soldiers and innocent civilians.

The war drags on simply because none of the parties to the conflict has an interest in stopping it. Unfortunately, in the course of the conflict both warring sides have learned to reap both political and – to my disgust – financial benefits. Thus for me, a member of parliament whose constituency is in the Donbass region, stopping the war is my number one objective. By doing so, we will also make our common home, Europe, a safer place.

My second objective is to achieve sustained economic growth. I came to politics from the private sector where I had spent many years in business, and this experience gives me confidence that Ukraine has tremendous commercial potential. Ukraine is well positioned to leave behind its current status as a net beneficiary of European financial assistance, subsidies, loans and convert itself into a large producer of high value-added manufactures and a major consumer market for European goods.

Last but not least, I want to vanquish corruption. The victory in this battle has to be gained whatever the cost, not least for the sake of all of us Ukrainians and the reputation of our country when we travel freely across Europe. We want to be proud of Ukraine. We do not want to be known as a “country at war, that has been plundered”, we want to be known as a country whose citizens work hard, whose people are renowned for their intelligence and creativity, and who study diligently and construct beautiful things.  We want to be known as people that are determined to build a new shared future with Europe.

The author, Serhiy Taruta, is a member of the Verkhovna Rada, the parliament of Ukraine.

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