But there have never been times when Ukraine and the EU were more focused on substance. And there have never been times when Ukraine’s chances to build a reliable, mutually beneficial and future-oriented relationship with the EU were as good as they have been in the run-up to concluding the association agreement.

Despite pessimistic comments on what is going on inside of the EU or in Ukraine, I am of the strong opinion that there are good reasons for optimism about Ukraine’s European prospects. One of them is the tangible progress achieved over the last year on the future of a visa-free regime.

As we all know, while stating that Ukraine’s future is clearly in the United Europe, Kyiv and Brussels have had their disagreements on how fast and in which form this future would materialize.

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili (L), Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev (C) and Ukraine’s President Viktor Yanukovych speak prior to a session at the Eastern Partnership Summit in Warsaw on Sept. 30. (AFP Photo/Janek Skarzynski)

Yet aside from discussions on membership, there have been a number of points on which both sides were quite unanimous. In particular, upon completion of the so-called “homework,” Ukraine should enjoy the four freedoms on which the project of a united Europe is based: the free movement of people, goods, services and capital.

There is a reason why the free movement of people tops that list. If you ask an average Ukrainian why he or she wants Ukraine to be in Europe in the first place, the answer most probably will be – to travel freely.

The very existence of the long and humiliating lines in front of the EU embassies in Kyiv is detrimental to national self-respect. Therefore any kind of visa relaxation on the part of the EU (and ultimately – a visa-free regime) is a matter of prior importance to Ukrainian voters. And because of that – it’s a matter of political priority to Ukraine’s government.

It has been almost a year since Ukraine and the EU concluded the seminal action plan on visa-liberalization with the EU. Ukraine’s overall record from these months is very good. We joined four international conventions, membership to which was a major prerequisite to any further progress on the issue. Eleven necessary laws have been passed by the parliament.

Ukraine adopted six strategic concepts and action plans pertaining to visa facilitation. The State Migration Service and the State Service for Personal Data Protection have been created. The only thing nation’s parliament has to do is to approve a good law on biometric passports.

Every one of these steps has been discussed for years. Yet it now until now, when Ukraine’s government is consolidated and streamlined, that they could be made. Quite predictably, Ukraine’s progress in implementing the first (legislative) phase of the action plan was graded by the EU as good in issues of public order and security and very good in the issues related to illegal migration and readmission.

Of course, Ukraine still has a lot to accomplish. In particular, more progress is needed in anti-corruption prevention of discrimination campaigns. But the most important thing is that after years and years of “talking the talk” we got the ball rolling. And in appreciation of that the EU seems ready to no longer describe the visa-free perspective as a long-term one.

Clearly, is a difficult time for the EU to talk about a visa-free regime. Euro-skeptics win one election after another.

The euro-zone seems entangled between North’s and South’s mental discrepancies vis-a-vis fiscal discipline. The Schengen zone borders rattle under the pressure from North Africa. Isolationist moods are on the rise. Europe’s xenophobic devils rejoice the advent of their blood-thirsty prophet from Oslo.

The very fact that the wheels of Ukraine’s EU integration keep rolling amid this unfavorable environment is due to the pragmatism of Ukraine’s approach and its readiness to do the homework. The second factor (not to sound too boastful though) is that Ukraine is an essential asset to a united Europe.

After all, wouldn’t the word “united” be misplaced here, unless the largest (and, as of now, perhaps the most euro-optimistic) country of Europe becomes an integral part to the unification project? Eliminating lines in front of the EU embassies in Kyiv would be a major step forward in making Europe united – in deed, not just in word.

Vasyl Filipchuk is the director of the policy and security department of Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry.