We want to stress that Ukraine’s economic and political integration in the European Union (EU) and the establishment of a free trade area (FTA) as of January 1, 2016, is inevitable and we support it, as does the entirety of the civil and business community of Ukraine, President of the Ukrainian League of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (ULIE) Anatoliy Kinakh said during the European Business Summit in Brussels on May 7, 2015.
“The EU has become the main strategic partner of our country in 2014. Numbers speak louder than words – our exports to EU countries account for 36% now, and the share of EU investment in Ukraine is 70%! Closer cooperation with Europe is a chance to speed up the introduction of high standards in Ukraine. In addition, cooperation with the EU has to gain new, far from formalized quality so as to rely on the strength, opinion and opportunities of Ukrainian civil society in the future,” the ULIE president said.
During the summit, Kinakh participated in a discussion panel entitled “Trade – Europe in the Global Economy” in order to speak about the key positions of the Ukrainian business community regarding Ukraine-EU cooperation.
“Our goal is to deepen cooperation with the BUSINESSEUROPE organization, the European Parliament, and the European Commission and accelerate the implementation of Ukrainian-EU economic cooperation bearing huge potential. We appreciate Europe’s assistance, but Ukraine has to take the first decisive step on its own – introduce global reforms, improve the work of all branches of the government, and strengthen the role of civil society. This is our own homework task which we have to fulfill,” Kinakh said.
Ukraine is currently suffering from treacherous aggression by its closest neighbor – Russia – which was a good economic partner in the past. Our country’s resources are gradually being exhausted and our main weapons are implemented reforms, economic growth, consolidation of civil society and the strong support of our international partners, namely the EU.
In his speech, the Ukrainian public figure thanked Ukraine’s partners and stressed that the speedy ratification of the Association Agreement is very important to Ukraine.
“January 1, 2016. We are getting closer to this date day by day and this stimulates Ukrainian businesses to develop, advance, search for ways to become modernized, and look for new markets, partners and proposals. We must not take a step back. Ukraine has been paying a too high price after it once rescheduled this date,” the ULIE president said.
Kinakh stressed that intense cooperation between the Ukrainian government, civil society and Ukraine’s European partners on serious programs aimed at adapting the country’s economy to EU norms and standards, boosting its competitiveness and implementing government reforms is very important. The simultaneous introduction of the free trade area and the ratification of the agreement between Ukraine and EU member states could be the best stimulus for the country, Kinakh said.
The ULIE is working to deepen cooperation with the European Economic and Social Committee. Both parties have agreed to hold joint events in the EU and Ukraine in order to strengthen the dialogue between industrialists, employers, and trade unions, as well as Ukrainian and European government agencies.
“In order not to waste time, we are enhancing the competitiveness of Ukraine’s economy so as to safeguard it against turning into a mere supplier of raw materials and exporter of low-cost labor and ‘brains’ to developed countries. Our country can and will produce high-tech and high value added products that are in demand all over the world. Today I can see that our European partners seriously support us,” Kinakh said.
