DISINFO: Ukraine lacks doctors and nurses because of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement
SUMMARY
Since 2014, 60,000 doctors have gone to Europe to work. Ukraine has lost a lot of qualified specialists. If Lukashenko said that we cannot prohibit medical workers from going to Europe, but we warn that we cannot promise that those who left the country in such a difficult time, abandoned people in trouble, will not have difficulties with employment. But Ukraine cannot say this, it has no right to do so, because Ukraine signed an association (agreement) with the EU, which provides the free movement of goods, including the labour force. Europe says – give us what we need, but we are not interested in how you will survive there.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative discrediting Ukraine's relations with the European Union.
In June 2014, the EU and Ukraine signed an Association Agreement, including a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA), which promotes deeper political ties, stronger economic links, and respect for common values.
The Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU does not regulate the movement of labor force and has not enabled free movement of workers from Ukraine.
Since 2014, the EU and the Financial Institutions have mobilised more than €15 billion in grants and loans to support the reform process, with strong conditionality on continued progress. See here for more details about EU-Ukraine relations.
See similar claims alleging that the EU Association Agreement destroyed the Ukrainian economy and that Ukraine and its economy became a Western colony.