"The expansion of the European Union creates a fundamentally new geopolitical and geo-economic situation for Ukraine," said former First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Oleksandr CHALYI at the international conference "Ukraine and the European Union: Mutual Interests."

In his opinion, "the expansion of the EU clearly recorded the unwillingness to grant Ukraine membership in the EU even in the long-term perspective," and "the new neighbourhood policy absolutely clearly excludes EU membership for Ukraine."

"The expansion of Europe completed the period of 'Euro-romanticism,'" said CHALYI. In his conviction, it is now necessary to create "new models for shaping Ukraine's European integration policy — without raising the question of EU membership." Oleksandr CHALYI emphasised the need to build such models primarily on the basis of economic goals, as Switzerland and Norway are currently doing, proposing to "transfer Ukraine–EU relations into the framework of pragmatism."

The approach proposed by Oleksandr CHALYI consists in "concentrating efforts on measures based on pragmatism, realism and equality." This concerns, in particular, an Action Plan regarding the final result of European integration aspirations, Ukraine's acquisition of the status of a country with a market economy, and a new cross-border policy. According to Oleksandr CHALYI, the implementation of such measures will be "the practical realisation of the opportunities that the neighbourhood policy provides."

"The model of the European integration strategy must be built on the foundations of international law," said CHALYI, "this is the only alternative to today's course toward Eurasian integration."

Speaking at the conference, Oleksandr CHALYI emphasised that he is on vacation and his personal opinions may not coincide with the official position of the state leadership.

P. S. During the conference it became known that Oleksandr CHALYI was dismissed from the post of First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine by Decree of the President of Ukraine. Director of the Institute of Euro-Atlantic Cooperation Borys TARASYUK expressed hope that this fact is not connected with Mr. Chalyi's speech at the international conference "Ukraine and the European Union: Mutual Interests."

According to Borys TARASYUK, "the news of CHALYI's resignation is a manifestation of Euro-disappointment, Euro-punishment or Euro-sanctions." In particular, he noted that "Oleksandr CHALYI is one of the most consistent European integrators, who had the courage to express his opinion, different from the President's opinion, to speak out against the SES." The Director of IEAC stated that "the resignation of O. CHALYI is an alarming signal that must be heard in Brussels and in the capitals of the member states of the European Union."

B. TARASYUK noted that "no one understands CHALYI like he does." In his opinion, "the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has lost a talented professional." But B. TARASYUK is confident that "the time will come, and the professionalism and energy of O. CHALYI will be needed by Ukraine."

Commenting on O. CHALYI's resignation, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ukraine Monique FRANK stated that "it is very sad that this fact took place on the eve of the celebration of Europe Day in Ukraine."

IEAC's regional partner in Volyn — Intellectual Service Consortium "Leon-Analitik"