The Ukrainian parliament is due to pass a package of bills on Monday that is part of an agreement with the EU to grant Ukraine candidate status. On June 11, President Zelensky handed over the list to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen as proof that Ukraine is ready for reform.

Only one bill is really relevant for proving this readiness - the ratification of an international treaty with a long title: "Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence," known as the "Istanbul Convention."

Its adoption was essential for the Netherlands and Sweden, two skeptical countries that eventually agreed to back candidate status for Ukraine. For them, the matter of equality and protection of human rights is highly important. And in general, for Western Europe, the Convention is like a marker of civilization to which all EU candidate countries correspond.

And this vote will test parliamentary groups and deputies for their Europeanness.

The real reason why many MPs do not want to vote "yes" is the fear of "voter revenge." There is a stereotype that the broad electorate is so concerned about gender issues that they will oppose the Convention even if it hurts Ukraine's European integration.

Georgia ratified the Convention in the spring of 2017. Despite some dissatisfaction with the church, parliament quickly conducted the procedure. However, as it turned out, this did not have any electoral consequences.

Moldova is even more significant. It ratified the Convention, and after a few months, even church officials stopped mentioning it. People did not see any horror stories they were told about.

There is every reason to believe that such a development awaits Ukraine after ratification.

In addition, President Zelensky proposed to ratify the Convention "with restrictions," which plays in favor of Ukraine in the dialogue with society. Or, in legal language, "with a unilateral declaration."

This additional document lets settle most of the precautions made by the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches.

By the way, last year, European Pravda recommended this way to approve the Convention in Ukraine. Even then, this idea was supported by many pro-European MPs. And the President has chosen this one, too.

Croatia also used this option, another country with strong Christian traditions. It was the first (and still the only one) state to ratify the Convention with restrictions to ease the concerns of its opponents. And it turned out it is acceptable by the Council of Europe.

Opponents of the Convention sometimes say there are countries in the EU that have not ratified it, so we can abstain. This is wrong.

Indeed, six EU states have not completed ratification. These are exclusively Eastern European countries: Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, and Slovakia. But they are already EU members. We still have to convince the EU to accept us.

Ukraine is more vulnerable. And since the EU makes decisions by consensus, any country that values ​​human rights (the Netherlands and Sweden) can add a valid point to the requirements that Ukraine must meet to move toward membership. And there are so many stages, as EuroPravda told...