Members of the Committee discussed the next steps for European integration with Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna

The Committee on Ukraine’s Integration into the EU held a meeting with the participation of the Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine, Olha Stefanishyna, the Director-General of the Government Office for Coordination of European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine and Chairs of the Verkhovna Rada subcommittees on European Integration. During the meeting, they discussed the results and decisions of the European Council meeting regarding Ukraine, the implementation of the recommendations of the European Commission contained in the Report on EU enlargement policy, and further government-parliamentary interaction on the way to European integration.

The Chair of the Committee on Ukraine’s Integration into the EU Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze noted that, taking into account the historic decision to open EU negotiations with Ukraine, Committee's interaction with the Government is going to intensify. “We are grateful to the Government Office for constructive work; we always look for a grain of truth and find mutual solutions. This is a good example of cooperation. We expect that the Committee's role will also increase,” said Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze. She noted that changes to the regulations of the Verkhovna Rada are necessary: “I would like us to move from the pilot option in the Verkhovna Rada to changes in the regulations. Several times we managed to stop negative decisions for European integration because we reviewed draft laws before the second reading. Then we decided that the relevant Committees should take our comments into account.”

Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Olha Stefanishyna noted that together with the decision on EU enlargement, a package of sanctions against Russia and a decision to provide Ukraine with EUR 50 billion in aid have been adopted. “The European Council guaranteed this assistance, and this decision will be considered within the framework of the general budget of the EU on February 1 at the next meeting of the European Council. We expect that there will be a consensus. And we are also counting on a decision regarding the last tranche of financial aid, which will allow us to cover the financial needs for the beginning of the year,” said the Deputy Prime Minister.

She also reported that the next step after the political decision to open negotiations should be the establishment of the negotiation framework, as well as the beginning of the official screening of the state system. According to her, Ukraine has completed a self-screening. The same procedure was initiated by Moldova. “About 30% of EU acquis must be implemented before joining. Regardless of the course of the negotiation process, every year we will be evaluated as an enlargement country; every year we will have such a report, which was presented on November 8, 2023. Based on the results of the reports, the next steps in the negotiations will be proposed,” said the Deputy Prime Minister.

The Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration also thanked for parliamentary diplomacy: “I am grateful for the support of the decisions that were adopted by various political groups and the European Parliament itself. In such turbulent issues, it is very important that parliamentary diplomacy retains control of these decisions and keeps them in focus.”

The Chair of the Committee on Ukraine’s Integration into the EU Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze emphasised that it’s important to continue joint work. This work should be done in the format of parliament-government and civil society. She is also convinced that it is necessary to use all possible formats of cooperation with the EU, in particular the Parliamentary Committee of the Association. Given the new challenges, it is important to "revive" it and make it an effective tool for interaction.