European Parliament's Renew Europe to lobby Ukrainian interests in EU - head of pro-presidential faction in Verkhovna Rada

MOSCOW. Feb 16 (Interfax) - The Renew Europe political group in the European Parliament, which has signed a joint declaration with the Ukrainian Servant of the People faction, will be lobbying the Ukrainian agenda in the European Union and national parliaments, head of the Servant of the People pro-presidential faction in the Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada David Arakhamia said.

"Our parliamentary faction, Servant of the People, has signed in Strasbourg a joint declaration with the Renew Europe political group in the European Parliament, which unites 23 countries, 39 parties, 102 deputies of the European Parliament, six members of the European Council headed by the Renew Europe president, and six European commissioners. Renew Europe will become Ukraine's lobbyist at the national levels and at the EU level," Ukrainian media quoted Arakhamia as saying on a social network on Thursday.

The declaration says that parliament members on both sides support the soonest beginning of negotiations in 2023 (if possible) on Ukraine's entry into the European Union, the respective preparations, and the drafting of an intermediate report of the European Commission in spring 2023 and another report in fall, he said.

The declaration says that its signatories will promote larger humanitarian and military assistance to Ukraine, the fulfillment of European Parliament resolutions in support of Ukraine, and the gradual but consistent integration of Ukraine into the EU common market and key industry programs, Arakhamia said.

"We have a strong agenda and influential allies. We will be working together to build a common European future, in which Ukraine will take a worthy place," he said.