One of the key lines in Ukraine’s European integration should be the support of our fellow citizens abroad. This is about 6-8 million Ukrainians who were forced to go abroad in search of work. This was stated by the head of UKROP, MP Taras Batenko during his speech from the rostrum of the Verkhovna Rada.
“In fact, these are victims of the government’s failure to provide decent conditions for living, getting education, treatment and employment in Ukraine. To stop the flow of young talented and professional people – this is a super-task for our country,” said the UKROP member.
The MP has noted that Ukraine continues to lose compatriots at an alarming pace. In search of a better life abroad, about hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians leave the country every month. At the same time, according to the UN estimates, every year migrant workers “pour” up to nine billion dollars into the Ukrainian economy.
The Ukrainian authorities are ready to fulfill dozens of conditions, guidelines and recommendations for obtaining a billion-dollar loan from the EU or the IMF. However, those in power completely ignore the needs of a much larger and more important investor – their own fellow citizens, stressed Taras Batenko.
“We are obliged to turn face to the migrant workers and our compatriots who have chosen a place of residence outside Ukraine. The top priority for the government should be negotiations on solving social, pension and legal issues of Ukrainian workers at the intergovernmental level,” added the head of UKROP.
As an example, the MP cited the United Kingdom – the leadership of this country does everything to ensure that exit from the EU would not affect the citizens living in the territory of the European Union.
According to Taras Batenko, the parliament should establish mechanisms for the development of e-democracy while reforming the electoral legislation. The state should ensure that all citizens could vote, regardless of their legal status or place of residence.
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian diplomats have to work to open new polling stations abroad for the participation of our compatriots in the next parliamentary and presidential elections.
“Millions of Ukrainian migrants should take an active part in preserving and building a new Ukraine, and we should make efforts to make this happen,” said the MP.
At the same time, the UKROP member proposed the Verkhovna Rada to oblige the government to prepare an annual report on observance of the rights of Ukrainians in the world.
