Philadelphia - A better use of the funds of the European Union is not the only aspect in which Italy should act as Poland does: a coherent support to democracy and liberty -the values on which the European Union is based- and the strengthening of both the European Union and the Trans Atlantic Community is also an important mission that Italy must accomplish, as Poland usually succeeds to do.
On Thursday, November 28, the Lower House of the Polish Parliament ratified the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the European Union by a overwhelming majority of almost all MPs that voted for the bill, whereas one sole MP abstained, and no MPs voted against.
On September 16, the Association Agreement has been simultaneously ratified by the European Union and the Ukrainian Parliament. This historical step was made possible by the sacrifice of hundreds of Ukrainians who died and got injured during the Revolution of Dignity, a non-violent move that broke out when former pro-Russian Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych refused to sign the Association Agreement.
Later, thousands of Ukrainians died during a military aggression by Russia, that eventually annexed Crimea and occupied Eastern regions of Ukraine in order to push Kyiv not to integrate into European Union and NATO.
The ratification of the Association Agreement is thus not only a question of liberty and democracy, but also a unique chance of economical growth for Ukraine, an opportunity of prosperity for the European Union, and a political insurance for the security of the whole Trans Atlantic Union.
The Association Agreement plans a gradual integration of Ukraine within the free market of the European Union by the harmonization of Ukrainian sanitarian and rural standards to the one of the EU.
Moreover, the Association Agreement will move Ukraine to pass urgent reforms of Ukrainian judiciary and business system. The Association Agreement also requires Ukraine to pass a new legislation to fight against corruption.
The Association Agreement allows Ukraine to push for the liberalization of EU visas regime, which is now so farraginous to forbid a high number of Ukrainian professionals the opportunity to go to Europe to study, travel, and possibly to find a job.
Finally, the European Union is finalizing a Treaty of Trans Atlantic Trade and Industrial Partnership -TTIP- with the United States, in order to create a free trade area in the whole Trans Atlantic Community into whom Ukraine too will eventually integrate thanks to the Association Agreement.
The Association Agreement could also calm down a situation of geopolitical instability in Eastern Europe due to Russian military aggression to Ukraine and a non-stop military threat by Russia to independent countries such as Georgia and Moldova.
Both military aggression to Ukraine and military threat to Georgia and Moldova are motivated by the willingness of Russian President Vladimir Putin to build a new Russian empire in Eastern Europe, in order to weaken the European Union and the whole Trans Atlantic Community.
Because of cultural and psychological reasons, for Russian political elites the control over Ukraine and Georgia is a goal to achieve in order to make Russia a world empire which is able to challenge global players such as the United States and China.
For the European Union and the United States, a renewal of a Cold War balance of power in Europe is a dangerous scenario that must be avoided. That's why a quick ratification of the Association Agreement should be followed by the integration of Ukraine within NATO.
Moreover, the European Union must push for a quick ratification of TTIP by priorly strengthening ties with the United States on military and energy issues: the Trans Atlantic Community must prepare itself to a a new wave of tensions and threats from Russia by integrating Ukraine within the Trans Atlantic Community and reducing military and energy ties with Moscow.
To become effective, the Association Agreement must be ratified by the Parliaments of all 28 member states of the European Union.
Several countries that understand how strongly the Association Agreement is filed with the prosperity of the European Union and the security of the Trans Atlantic Community -such as Sweden, Lithuania and Poland- already ratified the Agreement.
However, the majority of member states of the European Union still has to ratify the Association Agreement, with Italy among them.
"The ratification of the Association Agreement is a sign of support to the Ukrainian People and to their longing for democracy and liberty. We hope that today ratification at the Polish Parliament will represent the first step of the political integration of Ukraine within the European Union" the Marshall of the Lower House of Polish Parliament Radoslaw Sikorski said while signing the bill after its overwhelming approval.
It would be good, just and far-sighting whether the President of the Lower House of the Italian Parliament, Ms. Laura Boldrini, will stood up too for democracy and liberty in Eastern Europe by scheduling the ratification of the Association Agreement at the Italian Parliament as soon as possible.
Matteo Cazzulani, Analyst of Trans Atlantic, Central Eastern Europe and energy
