This Saturday (17th May), Ukrainians will celebrate Europe Day. Whilst this is usually a day for celebrations, the current fragile situation in Eastern Ukraine and escalating security concerns has created a very different backdrop to this year’s Europe Day. With this, the founding congress of the European Movement Ukraine, which was planned to take place the same day in Kiev, has had to be postponed until after the upcoming Presidential elections.

Europe Day on 17th May is deemed to be the “Day of Democracy” in Ukraine, as a statement of the people against oppression, tyranny and corruption. The European Movement International is honoured by the fact that many non-governmental organisations in Ukraine wanted to mark this year’s Europe Day by joining the European Movement International, the oldest and largest pro-European network.

Jo Leinen MEP, President of the European Movement International said: ‘the vast majority of people in Ukraine want to be part of the European community of values and keep fighting for freedom and the rule of law despite adverse conditions’. Mr Leinen continued ‘Europe is not created only by treaties between governments, but by direct contacts between people. The European Movement International and its affiliates want to promote an intensive exchange with its partners in Ukraine’.