The Speaker of the Sejm Marek Kuchciński took part in the 9th Europe-Ukraine Forum that started in Łódź. Sunday's panels opened the three-day event, during which parliamentarians, EU decision-makers, experts and businessmen present their positions on Ukraine. - This forum is a form of taking stock of a political process that took too long, with some difficulties, but which resulted in the association of the European Union with Ukraine - said the Speaker of the Sejm during the plenary session.
Marek Kuchciński spoke about the importance of the nation's will - without it there would be no chance for reforms and modernization. According to the Speaker of the Sejm it is the nation, not politicians, that contributes to good changes. As he stressed, the price of these reforms is enormous and respect should be paid - not only to the heroes of the Orange Revolution, but also to those who make sacrifices every day, setting an example of heroism.
In the opinion of the Speaker, the "Europe direction" is the end of the strategy of Ukraine's bivectorality, resulting from equal distance from Europe and Russia. He expressed hope that this is already a closed stage.
Marshal Kuchciński pointed to the long and demanding reform process. He recalled that Poland began this process in 1991, when it gained independence from the Soviet Union thanks to the actions of Jan Olszewski's government. Polish experience, as the Speaker of the Sejm said, dictates that the entire process of socialization and reform requires introducing the principle of listening to the voice of the society.
Speaker of the Sejm Marek Kuchcinski also touched upon the free trade zone as an opportunity for the economy and a challenge for Ukrainian entrepreneurs, as well as the visa-free regime associated with the effective fight against corruption. - Poland benefits from EU money to a large extent, which contributes to its development - he said. He also drew attention to the rational use of funds and their even distribution in order to equalize opportunities and raise living standards in different parts of our country, not just metropolitan areas.
In his speech Marek Kuchciński also referred to the Europe of Nations. According to the Marshal, the governments of the European people are an abstraction, because the fundamental politics take place in the states for which the Union should not make decisions.
Other speakers at the Europe-Ukraine Forum plenary session included Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski, Deputy Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Oksana Syroid, Deputy Speaker of the European Parliament Ioan Mircea Pascu, and Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia David Usupashvili.
During bilateral meetings the Speaker of the Sejm talked, among others, with the head of the "Potomac" Foundation Phillip Karber from the USA, who gave a presentation "Sophistication of the conflict and rape in Ukraine" during the forum. Marek Kuchciński also met with the Vice-President of the European Parliament and Head of the Parliament of Georgia.
