On the day of Viktor Yanukovych’s inauguration the European parliament adopted the resolution “On the Situation in Ukraine”. In the resolution the members of the European Parliament recognize Ukraine’s right to apply for EU membership, promise to simplify the visa regime for citizens of Ukraine (i.e. cancellation of visa fees) and stress the importance of the participation of Ukrainian students in university exchange programs with the EU.
In reciprocation for these promises, however, the European Parliament is expecting Ukraine to amend its gas legislation in compliance with EU directives (meaning a hike in gas prices for industry and the population) and cancel Viktor Yushchenko’s decree conferring Stepan Bandera the Hero of Ukraine title.
Experts think the visa regime will not be simplified, but Bandera’s title of hero must be stripped. “Such an impudent trick pulled the European Parliament can be only viewed as a show of disregard towards the Ukrainian nation and direct interference in the internal affairs of our state,” said Oleh Tyahnybok, Leader of the All-Ukrainian Union “Svoboda”. This is not the first time the European Parliament has conducted a deceitful policy based on the formula “real concessions in exchange for illusory promises”.
For example, on the agreement on the readmission between Ukraine and EU took effect January 1, 2010 and Ukraine must become the European settlement ground for illegal migrants in exchange for promises of simplifying the visa regime.