Ukrainian religious leaders met with the Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs Elmar Brok and a member of the committee Michael Gahler, who represent the parliamentary group of the European People's Party – the largest group in the European Parliament.
Ukrainian religious leaders met with the Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs Elmar Brok and a member of the committee Michael Gahler, who represent the parliamentary group of the European People's Party – the largest group in the European Parliament, reports the Institute for Religious Freedom.
During the meeting, both sides exchanged views on the European perspective of Ukraine, especially about the importance of the fundamental values on which modern Europe was built – freedom (including freedom of conscience and religion), democracy, respect for human rights, and the rule of law.
Representing the delegation, Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk said that religious leaders of Ukraine do not represent the government or politicians, but believers who make up the vast majority of Ukrainian society.
“With our presence here we want show the good news from Ukraine – we are a European people, and we want to and know how to work together as representatives of different nations and different faiths and religions. We see the future of Ukraine in the sphere of free European nations,” said the head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC).
Participants from both Europe and Ukraine demonstrated a desire to sign the Association Agreement at the summit in Vilnius.
“As in a marathon, Ukraine and Europe have been together a long way to reach this point where it is possible to sign the Association Agreement at the summit in Vilnius. Hopefully in the coming weeks we will overcome the last hundred meters of the marathon,” concluded the chairman Elmar Brok.
“The European Union is not so much something written on paper,” said MEP Gahler, “as a community of people who share common values and implement them in practice.”
Patriarch Filaret Denysenko said that religious leaders’ support of the European perspective of Ukraine also comes from a desire for lasting peace for Europe and the world.
“We do not want Europe to be divided into two warring camps, as it was in recent history," he said.
The Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kyivan Patriarchate said that in his opinion the recent celebration of the 1,025th anniversary of the Baptism of Kyivan Rus showed that the Ukrainian people and country have been part of Europe for over 1,000 years.
“We do not like everything in Ukraine, like we do not like everything in Europe,” said Patriarch Filaret. “But when the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU is signed, it will be easier to fix what needs to be corrected.”
Other religious leaders of the Ukrainian delegation also took part in the discussion.
The first day of the visit to Brussels ended with a meeting and dinner with representatives of religious organizations authorized to work in the EU. The agenda included a discussion of a number of issues that are important for the Ukrainian community and for the entire EU.