We hope to start negotiations on the EU membership this year, Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze

The Chair of the Committee on Ukraine’s integration into the EU Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze and the first deputy Chairman of the Committee, co-Chair of the EU-Ukraine Parliamentary Association Committee Vadym Halaychuk took part in the first inter-committee meeting of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and the European Parliament.

Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze expressed her gratitude to the leader and members of the European Parliament for the organisation of the unprecedented format of the event, as well as for the unwavering support of Ukraine. ‘The European Parliament has always been and remains, even in the most difficult times, at the forefront of support for Ukraine among all EU institutions. The initiative and unprecedented nature of this event is another manifestation of solidarity with Ukraine, faith in us and our victory, as well as a sincere desire to help us become a full member of the European family’, said the Chair of the Committee.

She noted that the Committee on Ukraine’s integration into the EU is a key parliamentary institution which ensures the implementation of the state policy in this sector at the legislative level. ‘Approximation of Ukrainian legislation and assessment of its compliance with international legal obligations in the field of European integration is the basic function of the Committee. One of our key priorities is monitoring Ukraine's implementation of the Association Agreement, as well as the seven conditions of the European Commission, which accompanied the granting of candidate status to Ukraine for EU membership. This is an ambitious goal, but we hope to be able to start membership negotiations this year. Accordingly, it is necessary to strengthen the institutional capacity of the Verkhovna Rada, and I hope that my colleagues from the European Parliament will help us’, said Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze.