During his working visit to Zhytomyr region, the First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Oleksandr Korniyenko gave a lecture to students of the State University of Zhytomyr Polytechnic on Ukraine's accession to the European Union: requirements and the possibility of their implementation.
The First Vice Speaker spoke about how the decision-making system in the European Union is organized, what governing bodies exist within it, and what rights, responsibilities, and opportunities it has. “Today, the European Union is an entity built around certain values: democracy, open market, human rights, and the search for compromise, common opinion, which results in consensus decision-making,” he said.
Oleksandr Korniyenko added that for Ukraine to be called a democratic country and to be a member of the European Union, it must have a developed democracy that changes the government through elections, an open market, accountability and control of the government to society, inclusiveness, participation of people in decision-making, free media, freedom of speech, and freedom of religion. “During the admission procedure, we will always be asked about two components. The first is the fulfillment of specific criteria, i.e. the negotiation procedure, the integration of Ukrainian legislation into the European one. The second is the state of democracy,” he noted.
“Europe is an incredible number of different opportunities, responsibilities and rights. Every time I emphasize that it is important and necessary to communicate with society about what awaits us and what we will face both on the way to and after becoming a full member of the EU,” Oleksandr Korniyenko emphasized.
During the lecture, he asked the students what would change for them personally when Ukraine joins the European Union. The answers varied: a new currency, open borders and subsidies, education, participation in decision-making, etc.
According to Oleksandr Korniyenko, it is important for young people to understand and realize all the aspects that Ukraine and its people will face in the European Union, “because they will live most of their lives under this flag.”
“We will need specialists who will be directly involved in decision-making, development, and work in governing bodies,” he said.
In addition, as part of the lecture, the First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine answered students' questions related to European integration, which demonstrates involvement and willingness to learn in order to join the processes at different stages.