OREANDA-NEWS. "European integration isn’t just the shared economy, it isn’t just freely travel over our borders. European integration, in the first place, is the shared mentality, the shared consciousness, shared culture and shared education," stressed Prime Minister of Ukraine Arseniy Yatsenyuk in "10 minutes" on Sunday, January 3.

The Prime Minister emphasized that the previous year the European Commission "clearly confirmed that Ukraine has fulfilled all criteria for a visa-free regime to be introduced between Ukraine and the European Union": "We expect a final decision of the EU on granting the visa-free regime for the citizens of Ukraine, as we are members of single large European space. We share the same values. We share the same principles. We respect the rights and freedoms of man and citizen. The guiding principle for us is the rule of law".

Arseniy Yatsenyuk reminded that a number of EU programmes was being implemented, including for Ukrainian scientists, cultural environment, a program of access to European resources had been launched: "The Creative Europe programme and Horizon 2020 programme, in which the Ukrainian artists and scientists can get from European Union a financial resource for the development of their sectors, for the development of every conscious Ukrainian personality".

The best example of European integration for Ukraine, according to the Head of the Government, " is neighboring and brotherly Poland": "Throughout 14 years, Poland has been pursuing complex reforms. Similar to those reforms we've launched during recent 22 months. And as a result of these reforms, Poland has become a member of the European Union, but one of the strongest EU members with a developed economy as well".

 "This is our way. And we’ll pass this way," he accentuated.

"Still a lot of work is ahead. Difficult, but correct work to ensure Ukraine to become a member of the European Union. To ensure that our citizens feel themselves as worthy members of the great European family. And this is our joint work. The joint work of every citizen of the country. The joint work of the Government and the Parliament. The joint work of the whole Ukrainian nation, which is a European nation. Because Ukraine is Europe," Arseniy Yatsenyuk stressed.